Gayaza Junior School was filled with excitement over the weekend as it welcomed the Uganda National Netball Team, the She Cranes, to its main campus.
The She Cranes visit coincided with the school’s 2026 Annual Sports Day, where pupils competed in different sports disciplines.
She Cranes, ranked sixth in the world, were led by head coach Rashid Mubiru and captain Rachael Nanyonga.
Assistant coach Ruth Meeme says that the She Cranes was invited to exhibit how netball is played, the speed, the skill and to watch how the stars play out there internationally.
The national team stars also had an exhibition game that also featured teachers and parents before Gayaza Junior School Netball Club was launched by the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Rt. Rev. Moses Banja, and headmistress Sarah Kizito Tebugulwa.
“I want to thank Future stars for the initiative of bringing the She Cranes to Gayaza Junior school. I think it is the first school the She Cranes team has visited. Their visit to the school has not only inspired the learners but the whole congregation including the teacher and parents,” she noted.
The school hosted the She Cranes through an initiative of the Future Stars Sports Program, which focuses on discovering, nurturing, and developing young talent
The She Cranes visit will motivate learners to balance sports with academics.
“It is all about introducing this game to the children, to the teachers and to the parents to know what is happening in the world of netball,” explained Meeme, who is the netball head coach in the Future Stars initiative.
Meanwhile, Angola once again dominated the Sports Day competitions for the second consecutive year, topping the standings with 1,440 points. Zambia, Algeria, and Ghana followed respectively.
