- Event: Buganda Youth Day 2024
- Date: Saturday, 16th November
- Venue: Lubiri, Mengo – Kampala
- Start time: 9 AM
- Sports events: Cycling, Traditional wrestling (Ekigwo E’Kiganda) & Omweso
- Other activities: Music, Dance & Drama competitions, fashion show, arts exhibitions and others.
- Theme: Promoting skills, innovation and Talent for youth development
The preparations to have a tranquil and successful 2024 Buganda youth day have reached their peak final rehearsals almost done and dusted.
The celebrations on this day (Saturday, 16th November) will be at Lubiri – Mengo in Kampala and shall entail sporting events and other activities to be conducted by the youth from all the 18 counties (Masaza) of Buganda Kingdom.
The sports activities to spice up the day will entail cycling, traditional wrestling (Ekigwo e’Kiganda) and omweso.
The other activities include music, dance & drama competitions, fashion show, arts exhibitions and others.
The final update to the public was through a media inter-face at the office of the Buganda Kingdom minister of sports, youth and arts on Thursday, 14th November 2024.
The minister Oweek.Robert Serwanga Ssalongo was flanked by the different youth leaders on the local organizing committee and the representatives from the sports disciplines; cycling, omweso and traditional wrestling (ekigwo e’kiganda).
Oweek. Sserwanga urged the youth from the different corners of Buganda Kingdom to throng Lubiri for the youth day festivities that commence with a pre-party dubbed as the “Kasiki” on Friday, 15th November 2024.
“I call upon all youth in Buganda to come and join the celebrations. The two days have a lot such as an exhibition where the youth will showcase what they do, so come join a day full of fun, learning and tourism.” Oweek. Sserwanga called.
The events kicked off with the Kasiki where there will be a fashion show, singing competitions, playing instruments at Muteesa I Royal University in Mengo.
Then on Saturday, will come the big day with the climax of the Masaza Cycling Tour Grand Finale, Traditional wrestling (Ekiggwo E’Kiganda) and the traditional board game of Omweso.
The Buganda Youth Council Chairperson Baker Ssejjengo eloquently addressed the media with a special call for all the youth to come in numbers.
Ssejjengo lauded His Majesty the Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II for the initiative of the Buganda Youth Day and the minister who has necessitated the preparations.
“I thank His Majesty the Kabaka of Buganda for giving the youth an opportunity to celebrate our day. It is a great opportunity for the youth to market what they do I call upon all the youth to come and join us on the big day.” Ssejjengo remarked.
Narrating the day’s program, the chairperson of the local organizing committee Najib Nsubuga outlined their schedule.
“I kindly request you to put on hold all your plans to do in these two days. We shall see talent development I appreciate all our partners thank you for walking the journey with us Owek. Robert Serwanga thank you for walking this journey with us the support and vibe we appreciate” Nsubuga noted.
Veteran sports administrator Hajji Salim Ssenkungu Musoke expressed delight having the traditional wrestling competition.
“We take pride in organizing the traditional wrestling (Ekigwo e’kiganda). This sport is very key for Buganda Kingdom and we shall spread it further” Musoke who is also the president of Uganda Weightlifting Association noted.
Over 30 people will be expected to take part in the traditional wrestling.
Cycling:
After two earlier circuits in Bulemeezi (Luweero) and Ssingo (Mityana), the final leg of the cycling will take center stage on the youth day.
According to Ahmed Ssemwanga Kabogozza, the secretary of Buganda Cycling committee, over 100 cyclists (men and women) are expected at the grand finale.
The cyclists will compete in the road (ordinary) and sport bikes for different distances around the famous Lubiri ring road.
Twenty (20) laps will be rode by men on sport bikes with 10 laps for those with ordinary bikes.
The women will ride 10 laps with sport bikes and 5 laps for women using ordinary (non-sport bikes).
Coming to the final leg, Bulemeezi is head of the other counties as Bugerere is currently second and Buddu in third place.
Omweso Game:
Hudson Kyagaba Musoke, the vice president of Omweso in Uganda was part of the meeting.
Kyagaba confirmed that at least 100 players from the 18 counties will compete in this game.
Among the pre-activities for the youth day entailed the Nkobazambogo sports gala at Kyambogo University as well as the Ssaza youth leaders’ competition at St Lawrence University.
The theme of this year’s youth day celebrations is “Promoting skills, innovation and Talent for youth development”.
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