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BACKGROUND |
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The start| Schools Cricket| The 1970's The 1990's|Tremendous leaps
The start of the game is associated to the arrival of the East African railway in the early 1900 but was greatly boosted by the arrival of British rule. . In Uganda, unlike Kenya and Tanganyika then, the game was immediately introduced in Schools, starting with Mwiri, Budo, Makerere college and Nyakasura.later on Ntare School and Nabumali High School. With time, it also grew outside the schools amongst the respective ethnic groups- Goans, Asians, Europeans and Africans. In 1939 the first, Schools Cricket week was held between the four pioneer schools. This tournament has then developed into a regular feature that is the source of National Cricketers. The 1940's saw the inception of a Triangular competition between the Whites, Asians and Goans. And the appearance of an exclusively black side. From its first appearance in the 1947, the side rapidly grew to emerge as the Africa Cricket Club (ACC) in 1950. Through the 1960's, inter-Club Cricket went into high gear, and international Cricket Started. Many new clubs emerged as the game proliferated to cover almost all the major towns in the country. On the international scene, Cricket enjoyed a proper representation with a strong national team selected from various clubs. In the period of the 70's the native community emerged as the only inheritors of the earlier boom days of the game and although it was a cricket club, ACC became the dominant Cricket organization. Not much success was met in trying to save most of the Cricket facilities that were abandoned by the departed Asians, but at least a minor few of the grounds in Kampala and Jinja were taken up and this helped to keep the game going. Inter club Cricket as it existed in the 1960's, was virtually reduced to intra-club competitions whereby different but regular teams played against each other under the only one fully functioning club ACC. The 80's conceded with dramatic changes for the nation at large. The turbulence that immediately followed the deposition of Idi Amin in 1979 adversely affected many aspects of life in the country including Cricket. The proceedings from 1980 general elections were almost five years of potential instability, and although Cricket experienced a relative upsurge in activity, the prevailing conditions of sporadic insecurity, political chaos and widespread economic malaise were inescapable In the 80's UCA did manage to attend three of five Quadrangulars, which was a great and commendable effort. It also managed to sustain a dying game by organizing an annual league and a variety of knockout tournaments. Owing to the return of some Asian players, the number of playing teams increased to five (Wanderers, Tornado, Premier, KICC, and ACC.) The 90's were a time for which cricket started to take genuine growth steps. For the first time since 1966. Uganda won the quadrangular in 1991. The schools Cricket week attracted more than 10 schools and had a sponsor- Coca Cola. Mini Cricket was introduced to support the game at the lower levels in primary schools. The most significant event was however the affiliation to ICC of the Association in 1998. With it came requirements of having paid staff and a regular office. Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) maintains the lead role in promotion and development of the game of cricket in Uganda apart from being affiliated to the National council of sports, UCA is now an associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the game's world supreme governing body. ICC is also a founder member of the African Cricket Association (ACA). Over the years UCA has evolved into Uganda's leading sports association, it enjoys the status of being the best run body in the sports arena and has put in place a culture of continuity and sustainability with growing emphasis on youth development and empowerment to maintain its status. All this has been achieved through a lot of strategic planning and the tireless efforts and sacrifice made by its members and supporters and of late a host of strategic sponsors for the various programs.
UCA has made tremendous leaps and bounds in achieving the five year plan of participating in the World cup. And the Association is now amid a programe, which has the National team and the Under 19 teams preparing to participate in the international tournaments. Towards this effort the Association has set-up structures and development in line with its objectives. The Plan has been structured along the following key programme Areas: a) Mini Cricket Development Programme b) Schools Development Programme. c) Cricket Academies. d) Women's Cricket. e) Club Cricket, Grounds and Umpiring f) National Teams. g) Administration UCA bright plans for the development of Cricket in this country as outlined above. (UCA Strategic Plan). UCA is helping a new generation of Ugandans pick up the bat and ball. A new day; a new game and two batsmen at the wicket. |
| © Uganda Cricket Association 2009 Lugogo Stadium, PO Box 8346 Kampala,
Uganda |
