Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has advised kingdom employees to appreciate physical fitness drills if they are to take Buganda to the summit.
Speaking at the closure of the annual Buganda kingdom sports gala at Namboole stadium on Friday, Mayiga said sharper and healthier bodies were key in perfecting Kabaka’s work.
“We come here to thank the Kabaka for giving us jobs. We come here to socialize and we also come here for unity but, most importantly, to keep our bodies healthy,” said a jovial Mayiga, after a day-long rollercoaster of sporting activities that included omweso, rope-skipping, netball, athletics, football, volleyball, cycling, wood ball, tug-of- war, among others.
All the thirteen Buganda kingdom business entities participated in the one-day event and Buganda Land Board emerged overall winners, walking away with a bull and a trophy. Lubiri High School came second and got a goat while K2 telecom were third.
Mayiga applauded the winners for exhibiting a variety of talents and asked the losing sides to prepare better next year.
On behalf of the winners, Buganda Land Board managing director David Kyewalabye-Male appreciated the spirit of the game but castigated colleagues from other Buganda entities for ill- preparation.
“I think while this is a one-day event, we should always prepare during the year at our respective addresses. We have seen people collapse after running short distances. This shows lack of fitness and ill-preparation,” Male said.
He further noted that keeping fit does not require much money but discipline and working with the available means.
Buganda sports minister Henry Ssekabembe Kiberu termed this year’s event as successfull, noting that it had fullfilled the objective of promoting unity and a healthy team of kingdom workers.
nangonzi@observer.ug