Melvin Tayebwa, Peace Nyafwono, Claire Nyapendi, Trevor Bossa Mutegeki, and Jeremiah Daniel Atwiine are set to represent Uganda at the second Sharing Olympism Forum due August 13 – 16 in Maseru, Lesotho.
Organized and hosted by the Lesotho National Olympic Committee (LNOC), the continental initiative brings together youth and sports leaders from across Africa to exchange strategies for advancing Olympism, focusing on youth engagement, inclusivity, and the role of sport in fostering peace and development.
The event is fully supported by Olympic Solidarity (OS), which is funding the host and travel logistics. Uganda hosted the first edition of this Forum.
Under the central theme ‘Promoting Olympism through Ubuntu,’ the forum will gather participants – from the Kenya, South Africa, Eswatini, Uganda, and Lesotho National Olympic Committees (NOCs) – who will engage in cultural exchange and competitive academic activities centered on contemporary African sports issues, including debate, essay writing, poetry, quizzes, and public speaking.
Uganda’s delegation, dispatched by the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), also has Moreen Awor, serving as coach and safeguarding officer, and NOC coordinator Joseph Oluka.
Uganda’s participants were selected from among the top performers at the 11th edition of the Olympic Values Contest held at at Olive School, Namugongo in June. The contest that had over 200 students from 23 schools across the country was organized by UOC’s Olympic Values, Education, and Culture Commission (OVEC).
“At the UOC, we do not only promote Olympic Games, but also promote Olympism,” UOC president Donald Rukare, said as he flagged off the team at their offices in Lugogo on Wednesday where he was accompanied by OVEC chairperson Annet Nakamya.
“So having these activities that promote Olympism is one way of spreading the tenets of friendship, excellence, and respect among the young people.
And we are very happy that some of these young Ugandans have been selected and we wish them all the best. Competition of this kind is one way of stimulating interest across the region of Africa,” he added.
Tayebwa – a 16 year old from Kabojja International School, Nyafwono – an 18 year old from Nabisunsa Girls’ School, and Seroma Christian High School’s Nyapendi will take part in debate.
Nyafwono will also be involved in poetry while Nyapendi takes on essay writing.
Male participants Trevor Bossa Mutegeki from Baptist High School and Jeremiah Daniel Atwiine from Muntuyera High School will take part in public speaking and quiz respectively.