Uganda has intensified its bid to become a major destination for international table tennis after the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) opened discussions with the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) over hosting continental events and strengthening governance.
UTTA president Muwanga Mark Cyrus held a strategic meeting with ITTF Director of Governance Dr. Andres Constantin at the federation’s headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the two parties explored the future development of the sport in Uganda.
During the meeting, Dr. Constantin congratulated the UTTA leadership on its recent ratification and the successful staging of its Annual General Meeting, praising the federation’s efforts to uphold transparency and good governance.
Muwanga reiterated UTTA’s commitment to complying with Uganda’s National Sports Act, saying the federation is working towards obtaining a Certificate of Compliance that will strengthen its governance structures and improve access to government support.
“This engagement with Dr. Constantin and the ITTF reaffirms our commitment to building a strong, compliant and internationally competitive table tennis federation,” Muwanga said.
“We are grateful for ITTF’s support and believe Uganda is ready to take on bigger responsibilities, including hosting continental championships.”
The discussions also centred on Uganda’s ambition to stage the Africa Senior Table Tennis Championships in the coming years.
Muwanga welcomed ITTF’s decision to include Uganda among the beneficiary countries set to receive international-standard tables and other equipment, a move expected to improve local competition while enhancing the country’s capacity to host major tournaments.
The UTTA president also congratulated ITTF President Petra Sorling and the global governing body for successfully organising the recent ITTF Annual General Meeting in London.
As part of his visit to Switzerland, Muwanga toured the International Olympic Committee headquarters and the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, a visit aimed at strengthening the federation’s relationship with the Olympic Movement.
UTTA believes the engagements mark another step towards positioning Uganda as one of Africa’s emerging table tennis hubs through improved governance, better infrastructure and the hosting of high-profile international competitions.
