The Uganda Baseball and Softball Association has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and the promotion of women in sport.
Speaking during the launch of the first-ever African U15 women’s baseball friendly championship, Uganda Baseball and Softball association President Ssempa John Bosco pledged to put more emphasis on equal rights for all genders and the growth of women’s baseball in Uganda.
“I thank the catholic of Uganda for giving us a field where this baseball field was built. We are very happy as Uganda baseball and softball that we can play football everyday. This tournament gives us great benchmarking. Uganda will also be visiting South Africa in the near future but we want to be hosting more events and this is a good start,” revealed Sempa..
“We have a big plan to develop ladies in the sport of baseball and give them attention like men. We have a discipline called baseball five which is gender inclusive,” he adde.
Head of Women in Baseball at the South Africa Baseball Union Hayley Scott Maree believes that the championship will open doors for more girls and women to embrace baseball.
“I am very excited to be here. We have been building a youth female program and this championship will give the players more exposure and experience,” she noted.
Government and Schools institutions promised increased investment in grassroots baseball development across the country, including improvement of baseball playgrounds and facilities.
“Mugisha Christopher, the CEO of Uganda secondary schools sports association said that they are trying to see that all sports reconsignied by the National council of sports spreads to schools.
“Last year we had three schools turn up for the baseball championship as we launched the sport in ball games II and we think more will turn up subsequently. We need more capacity building programmes so that students and teachers get more baseball knowledge,” he said.
National council of sports assistant General secretary Milton Chebet said that the government is undertaking a multi-sport inflasutre development.
“You can see the government is putting up structures with multi-sport facilities like Hoima City stadium. The government is planning for all federations but federations should also approach the private sector for a hand in infrastructure development,” he noted.
“Government is committed to see that funding to these associations increases and with time, definitely federations and associations like Baseball will get more funding,” he added.
The historic four-day series officially got underway on January 7th, 2026, at the Uganda Japan National Baseball Stadium in Gayaza, with hosts Uganda taking on South Africa.
