Cricket Uganda extended its nationwide grassroots development program to St. Mary’s Primary School Kasozi, located in Buwunga Subcounty, Masaka region.
The introductory activation marked the first time the game of cricket was played at a school in this specific area, representing a key step in expanding the sport’s regional reach.
The introductory session was conducted by Cricket Uganda’s South Western Regional Development Officer, Lawrence Ssempijja.
As part of ongoing efforts to grow the game’s footprint, Ssempijja focused on teaching foundational cricket skills to an enthusiastic group of young learners.
Through a series of structured drills, the pupils were introduced to fundamental mechanics, including catching, throwing, and running.
“Today I was at St. Mary’s Primary School, Buwunga subcounty, Masaka region,” said Ssempijja. “This is a school that has welcomed cricket and the first school to play the game of cricket in the area. The session was all about introducing the game to the children. In this session, the children learnt how to catch, throw, run, and also count the runs through the game of rapid fire which they all enjoyed.”
The enthusiasm on the field extended beyond the students, with the school’s teaching staff actively participating in the drills.
The school’s administration welcomed the initiative, highlighting the positive impact the sport would have on student fitness and teamwork.
Plans were put in place to sustain the momentum through internal school competitions.
“The head teacher was excited to have the game of cricket introduced in his school,” Ssempijja added. “And they will continue playing the game, starting from inter-house and inter-class competitions.”
This school visit was part of Cricket Uganda’s broader strategy to introduce the sport to new communities and nurture talent at the foundational level.
By engaging primary schools, the regional development office ensured that young players learned proper basics early, strengthening the long-term talent pipeline for regional teams.
Ssempijja emphasised the core philosophy driving these continuous regional visits:
“Cricket is fun and brings us together. We catch them young to build better future players.The best time is starting them game young.“
With the game established at St. Mary’s Primary School Kasozi, Cricket Uganda aimed to build on this foundation and support the growth of school cricket across the wider Masaka region.