The vibrant thwack of shuttlecocks is poised to replace the familiar thud of footballs in the schools of Kumi, thanks to Badminton Uganda’s ambitious nationwide outreach. Their latest “Shuttle Time” workshop, a two-day intensive held at Dr. Aporu Akol Memorial Secondary School on March 31st and April 1st, has equipped 25 enthusiastic sports teachers from across the district with the skills to introduce a new passion to their pupils.
Among the eager participants was Adome Juma, a 55-year-old veteran sports teacher from Olungia Primary School. With 29 years dedicated to nurturing young athletes in football, netball, and volleyball across various Kumi schools, Adome represents a generation of educators whose exposure to badminton was, until now, limited to fleeting glimpses on television screens.
“I’ve only ever seen badminton played on TV, never truly understanding its intricacies,” Adome shared, his eyes alight with newfound knowledge. “This ‘Shuttle Time’ workshop has been a revelation. I’ve learned so much, and what strikes me most is how unique badminton is – it truly caters to all kinds of people, which isn’t always the case with other sports.”
Inspired and invigorated, Adome already has a clear vision: “Now that I have these skills, my plan is to introduce badminton to my pupils immediately. I want them to experience this sport. I call upon the district sports officer here in Kumi to engage all stakeholders in the district to ensure this sport takes root and spreads widely.” His ambition doesn’t stop there. “In just a few years,” he declared with conviction, “I would love to see my pupils competing at the national level.”
The enthusiasm radiating from Adome was echoed by Ekabot Simon, the Chairman of the Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association in Kumi district. “We are committed to fostering this growth,” Ekabot stated, “and we will be initiating regional competitions as soon as possible to give these young players a platform.”
Lule Ronald, one of the dedicated “Shuttle Time” coordinators, affirmed the success of the program. “All the participants received top-tier training and have shown incredible willingness to embrace and promote the sport,” he noted. Indeed, many teachers expressed their newfound confidence and readiness to serve as ambassadors for badminton in their respective communities.
Kumi is the second district, following Ngora, to benefit from Badminton Uganda’s impactful campaign, underscoring their commitment to democratizing access to the sport and unearthing new talent from every corner of the nation. The future of badminton in Uganda looks set to soar, one shuttlecock at a time.
