Hon. Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality), who is also the chairperson of the Parliamentary sports group, on Wednesday, presented a report of the 13th EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games held in Kigali, Rwanda between 8th and 19th December 2023.
The EAC lnter-Parliamentary Games are important in fostering relations among the member states in line with Article 49(2) (a) of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community.
Hon. Basalirwa informed the House that Uganda’s Parliament emerged as the overall winner of the women’s athletics category with 18 medals ahead of second-placed Tanzania which took 11 medals.
Team Uganda also emerged as the winner of the men’s athletics category with 18 medals.
During the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Kigali, Team Uganda was the best in golf with Hon. Alioni Odria and Hon. Caroline Kamusiime bagging accolades for the longest drives in men’s and ladies’ categories respectively.
Hon. Sylvia Nayebale was crowned the overall winner in golf, while Hon. Judith Alyek was the best golfer in the ladies category.
Hon. Basalirwa said Team Uganda also won gold medals in basketball, volleyball, football, and other disciplines.
“Uganda was the overall champion of the tournament,” he told plenary.
Despite the outstanding performance at the EAC Games in Kigali, Hon. Basalirwa cited some challenges that affected the activities such as; no trained umpires for the walking race, non-adherence to rules by some teams, lack of resting benches, long distances between venues, etc.
In her remarks, Speaker Anita Among commended the team for its achievements.
“On a special note, I want to thank the team for the discipline while in Kigali. I got the report that Team Uganda was the most disciplined team.”