Okokoro Town CouncilCrowned Uhuru Tournament Champions
Uhuru (in yellow tie) joins other leaders in a group photo with the players of the finals on Thursday
MARACHA. Okokoro Town council in Maracha district has been crowned the champions of Uhuru tournament, a league organized by Nelson Uhuru, the Maracha County Parliamentary contestant.
The Inter Sub-County football tournament which kicked off in September last year climaxed on Thursday, January 31, 2025 between Oluvu sub-county and Okokoro Town Council at Otravu Primary School playground.
After a spirited fight, Okokoro Town Council denied Oluvu the chance of becoming the champions by beating them two goals to zero.
As a result, the excited players and fans of Okokoro walked away with a trophy and shs1m cash reward.
In the same spirit, all the sub-counties and town councils that participated in the tournament were also appreciated.
Speaking during the finals, Uhuru said their main objective of organizing the tournament was to identify talent and keep the youths in Maracha County busy.
“The biggest number of inmates when you go to prisons are the youths. So, as a fellow youth, I thought it wise to first of all, occupy these youths busy during their free time so that they don’t engage in issues of criminality,” Uhuru said.
“The second motive was to identify and nurture talent. In Maracha, when it comes to talent, we are still sleeping, so as a person seeking to represent Maracha County in Parliament, I thought it was wise to first of all identify talent, market it which we have done and above all, see that my people are united,” Uhuru added.
He encouraged the people of Maracha County to embrace sports because it is a form of employment for youths globally.
According to Emmanuel Adripiyo, the former Maracha County Chairperson who doubles as Uhuru’s campaign manager, they are going to organize the Uhuru tournament annually.
Adripiyo said they spent over Shs50m to organize the tournament which has just ended, promising that they are likely to spend more money in the coming years depending on the number of the teams that will show interest in participating in the league.
Muzamil Bondo, the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) National Delegate representing Maracha district, expressed gratitude to Uhuru for organizing the tournament.
He said the Uhuru tournament has made their work easier when it comes to talent identification.
“This tournament has come timely to me. Getting people like Uhuru has been very difficult for Maracha because people can’t spend easily on sporting activities yet they love football. The level of support in football in Maracha here is very low and that is why we have welcomed this tournament organized by Uhuru,” Bondo said.
He equally commended the district sports office which he said is also helping them in identifying talent through primary school football.
“We have under 12 playing football, we have also under 14 playing football and recently the one organized by FUFA called Odillo, all these have been taking place here in Maracha and through them we have been identifying talent. Now when you look at secondary schools, we have the post-primary school games in Maracha here and Maracha has been competing through those games,” Bondo remarked.
“I want to confess to you that as Maracha, everyone has already risen up. We know that the best way of supporting our people is through sports and the only sport that can unite people, that can develop the people of Maracha is football. That is why you will find football activities taking place in all the areas in Maracha,” Bondo stressed.
At least five bulls donated by Uhuru were slaughtered on the fateful day for thousands of the people who turned up to feast on.