By Caroline Kanshabe
Speaker, Anita Among, has flagged today off the Parliament Sports Team to the 13th Edition of the East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games to be held in Kigali, Rwanda.
This year’s event will be held under the theme: For a progressive, peaceful and all-inclusive EAC, from 07 to 19 December 2023.
Six EAC partner states: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, and the regional assembly, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), will take part in this year’s edition of the games.
While flagging off the team, the Speaker reminded the legislators of the core principle of the EAC that is intended to widen, deepen, and tighten the East African integration.
She also urged them on discipline, hard work and protection of Uganda’s image.
“We are the defending champions of these games, so we must go there and defend our position. And remember to protect the integrity and the name of this country. The image of this country is very important,” Among said.
The Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sports Club, Hon Asuman Basalirwa (JEEMA, Bugiri Munic.) said the Uganda Parliament team has been well prepared and is ready to bring trophies home.
“In terms of preparation, we are ready, the coaches have done their part and I only hope that our participation in Kigali is going to bring more victory because we are the defending champion and we have an obligation to defend the trophies that we took last year,” Basalirwa said.
Basalirwa said the games provide a platform to popularise the EAC.
“The games help us to explain the processes of East African integration and why it is important to integrate…So we are going to represent and protect the image of our country,” Basalirwa said.
He added, “But also, there are aspects of socialisation, networking, building synergies because ultimately as MPs from the region, we need to know each other and network.”
The games will feature various disciplines including football (for men only), netball, volleyball, basketball, darts, golf, and athletics, for both men and women.
