History of Criclet in Uganda

The national organisation which is responsible for organisation and development of cricket Uganda is the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA)

The UCA is affiliated to the National Council of Sports and this gives cricket a great chance to deelop in this country.the International Cricket Council (ICC) gave Uganda as Associate Member status in 1998 Uganda.Apart from this credid goes to UCA  as UCA is also a founder member of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA).

The British rule in Uganda and the arrival of the Indians, are the two important reasons for the start of this game in Uganda.As a result cricket was immediately introduced in Schools, starting with Busoga College Mwiri, King's College Budo, Makerere College School and Nyakasura School.As the game gained popular With time, it also grew outside the schools amongst the respective ethnic groups which includes Goans, Asians, Europeans and Africans.

A tournament called "Schools Cricket Week" was set un in 1939 with four pioneer schools and this type of tournament has then developed into a regular feature that is the source of National Cricketers.

A local Triangular Tournament was held during the 1940's and 50's and this tournament was exopanded later with four teams participating and it became a Quadrangular series. The greatest turning pint was in 1966, whereUganda emerged the champions in the inaugural East African Championship.

This tournament became a major and almost sole international event for Uganda, until 1998 when we attained Associate Membership of the ICC. Cricket in Uganda has over the years developed through the respective Development programmes as detailed here

Mini Cricket Development Programme

IN 1994 Mini Cricket was introduced in by ICC Regional Development Manager, Mr. Hoosain Ayob  and the late Sir Conrad Hunte.

This  programme was started with only 4 schools , and all of them were from  the city of Kampala. The main drwback for this tounmanet for not being lobal level is that this programme used locally manufactured bats, and at the worst, used lawn tennis balls.

The rules was also simplified to enable it be played in primary schools in different settings  and it can be  easily played by both boys and girls. At present this tournament is played in 186 schools in 21 districts across the entire country play and it is played competitively and this number is limited by budgetary and managerial constraints.

Schools mainly form the district and regional committees which are a key in the running of this programme., and the products of this programme are now the backbone of all our age group tournaments and this includes both boys and girls.

But bigger level tournaments are also played progressively at district, regional and eventually at National level and the school leavers are trained to provide basic coaching and also help in running the tournaments.


Schools Development Programme

As highlighted, activities related to this programme started way back, with the first tournament in 1939 for 4 schools. This programme however was expounded formally during 1976, when it was realized that with the expulsion of Asians, a solid programme in schools had to be consolidated.

This tournament, for the past 14 years has been sponsored by M/S Century Bottling Company Limited. The programme typically starts with coaching visits to schools, where some equipment is donated, subject to availability.

Holiday camps are held in the first term holidays, where each school is able to send some players for coaching. School masters are involved as well. For the last 5 years, these camps (and the coaching visits) have been financed as part of the ICC Regional Development budget.

During the months of May,June and July, regional schools tournaments are held, so as to determine the best 12 schools teams that do eventually participate in the Schools Cricket Week. The finally twelve have been increased to 13 including the Rwanda National Schools XI that is invited to take part in a bid to up standards of cricket in our neighbouring country.

This programme currently covers 45 boys' secondary schools, but actual demand is much higher than this, because of the numbers generated by Mini Cricket. The main constraint here is lack of equipment and playing surfaces. Gratitude to the British High Commission, Indian High Commission through the eighties and nineties.

Since 2006, Bankstead District Cricket Club in Australia has generously donated equipment to Uganda Cricket Association and this equipment is used in schools, for the U13, U15, U19 and women cricket in the country.

This programme has been responsible for producing the players that have enabled us qualify previously for the Under 19 World Cups in 2004 and 2006. Uganda's win in Zambia in April/May 2009 is a testimony to our development programmes. The Senior National side is composed of products of the above programs and currently half the squad are products of the last three years.

Women's Cricket Development Programme

With Mini Cricket programme being a great success, the number of secondary school girls are also interested in playing Cricket has increased. So the Association started a programme for this category in 1999 initially covering 4 schools, but currently it runs in 19 schools.

Initial programmes were limited to coaching visits, provision of equipment and exchange of visits. During 2001, the British Council, through their Dreams and Teams Project extended support to this programme, as part of the campaign to establish leadership skills in young ladies through sports.

Since 2001 the Association has run a Girls' Schools Cricket Week that was proudly sponsored by World Health Organisation relaying Aids Awareness messages, talk shows. While the Association has taken over the mantle while it seeks a new sponsor.

When the ICC established regional age group tournaments in 2001, this programme enabled us raise a competitive women's team, and this has won regional champions for the last eight years. After sweeping all accolades in East Africa championship in January 2009 the Uganda ladies came back home yearning for more competitions.

The programme now runs in 19 schools and of late, the donation of equipment from Bankstead District Cricket Club has been very handy. In 2007 Uganda Cricket Association host the first senior women cricket tournament and currently runs a full two round league with four teams.

The UCA is also aware of their social responsibility, and a number of projects are taking place in underprivileged areas, giving the physically disabled and blind the opportunity to play cricket

Awards

Through the above programs, Uganda Cricket Association has won ICC Global Best Development Program 2005, Life Time Service Award 2004, Best Junior Initiative 2005, Best Volunteer 2006

Games and Grounds

As stated earlier, there were local tournaments, based on ethnic groupings in the 1950s up to the mid-1970s, when Asians were expelled and a lot of the European expatriates left the country for security reasons.

Only the Africa Cricket Club was left, and even they suffered their fate: in 1978, one of the founder members, Fred Luswata was brutally murdered at the Cricket Club.

Africa Cricket Club however formed several teams that gave rise to some of the current Clubs. Currently, the season consists of two knock-outs, a twenty20, a two round league and a champions trophy.

During the 1990s, astro turf was introduced, and is still in place at 4 of the 5 major grounds. During 2003, a grass wicket was laid at Lugogo, with sponsorship from Castle Lager and Shell Uganda Limited. In 2006 the MCC donated $5,000 towards laying of a grass wicket at Kyambogo.

Uganda Cricket Association laid yet another grass wicket in Entebbe in February/March 2009. Uganda now boosts of 3 grounds up to international standards. Plans to lay more grass wickets and acquire more grounds are heavily constrained by lack of funds but the Association has vowed to use every tool with its means to improve grounds in the country.

Administration

The Constitution of Uganda Cricket Association defines its membership as the Clubs Affiliated to it. The delegates of these Clubs, together with the Members of the Executive that are elected annually, constitute the Association's Council, the top governing unit of the Association.

The Executive, together with members appointed to head the respective programme heads take care of the affairs of the Association, with policy guidance from Council. All the above mentioned are volunteers, and this culture of volunteerism that has been passed on over the years has been very instrumental to the success of our programmes, especially in the bad days.

On top of the above, the Association hires 14 full time employees, inclusive of the Administrative Officer, Development Officer and Accountant, Field Operations, two coaches aand eight grounds staff to manage the Office and support all programmes. These are supported by part time volunteers during the programs. The Association also advertised the CEO vacancy and vetting is the process. Although the above Officers are employed on full time basis, their pay does not reflect the kind of work they do.

Senior National Team

It was in 1966 the first major international engagement for the Senior National team was played and it was played between the East and Central African Cricket in a Quadrangulars of 1966. The Uganda team was selected from the five clubs tournaments and the players involved includesthe Indian, Goan, White, Muslim and African clubs.

In 1975 Uganda hosted the ECACC and from this Sam Walusimbi and John Nagenda were selected to play for the East and Central African team in the World Cup. The years of turmoil that followed made it very difficult for Uganda to regularly participate in this tournament, but inspite of this efforts were taken for the development of the game

It was in 1991, Uganda won this tournament again after 25 years,,its  domination in this cup started. In 1996, Africa Cricket Association was formed,and  Uganda started to regularly feature in the ACA Cup, a successor to the Zone 6 tournament and Uganda's best performance came in 2004, when Uganda finished second, behind Namibia.

In 1998, Uganda became an Associate Member of ICC, and 2001 team finished 10th overall in the ICC Trophy in Canada, having entered as seed 25. This was a major turning point in various ways. While on the positive side, Uganda was recognized as a stronghold of Cricket, this also meant that Uganda had to work harder, to display their abilities.

As stated earlier, at that time, Uganda dominated the Quadrangulars and Africa Cup, but as was to soon be demonstrated, these tournaments were at the low level. In 2004, the ICC introduced the ICC Intercontinental Cup, and in the first edition, Uganda beat Namibia comprehensively, but also lost to Kenya by an innings and 4 runs.

In the 2005 edition, Uganda narrowly lost to Namibia, but comprehensively lost to Kenya again. In 2005, Uganda hosted a lot of friendly contests, and excelled here.

A lot of support was received from Castle Lager, MTN Uganda and Shell Uganda, who also sponsored the team to the ICC trophy in Ireland the same year. Uganda's performance at the ICC trophy in Ireland can be described in so many ways, but it was poor, to say the least.

While Uganda's performance at the Atul Shah Memorial in Mombasa early 2006 was exciting, the team lost against the full Kenya. In the World Cricket League Division III, Uganda performed well winning the trophy in Darwin, Australia in 2007. Uganda was promoted to Division II.

Uganda then played in the World Cricket League Division II in Windhoek, Namibia, finishing fifth out of six teams and consequently relegated to World Cricket League Division III.

Uganda then proceeded to Buenos Aires, Argentine for the WCL Div III where were in the top two to qualify for the ICC WCQ in South Africa. In April 2009 Uganda played in ICC WCQ finishing 10th out 12 and narrow defeats to top class associates like Ireland, Scotland and Canada.


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