Dokolo District Local Government has flagged off more than 80 pupils to represent the district in the national Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) and Ball Games competitions in Iganga and Mubende districts.
The teams were flagged off on Sunday, August 23, 2026, ahead of the national competitions scheduled to run from August 24 to September 4.
The delegation includes 60 pupils from Iguli Primary School in Amwoma Sub-county, who qualified during the regional MDD competitions held in Boroboro, Lira City, from August 14 to 16. They will represent Dokolo at the national MDD competitions in Iganga District.
Another 25 pupils have been selected to represent the district in the national Ball Games competitions in Mubende District.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Dokolo District Sports Officer, Godfrey Ojungo, commended parents, teachers, political leaders and other stakeholders for supporting the pupils to reach the national level.
Ojungo urged parents, teachers, leaders and well-wishers to continue supporting and praying for the teams as they compete for honours.
Dokolo District Inspector of Schools, Erechu Lameck Tonny, said the district’s growing participation in sports was a sign of its commitment to identifying and nurturing young talent.
He cited the recent participation of a Dokolo pupil in a competition in Morogoro, Tanzania, as evidence of the district’s growing sporting ambitions.
Erechu encouraged the pupils to remain focused and disciplined, noting that they would face strong competition from equally talented teams from across the country.
“Give your best and fight hard to bring awards back home,” he told the pupils.
The Secretary for Education, Health and Community-Based Services, Joel Opota Okuma, urged the pupils to maintain discipline, work hard and trust in God throughout the competitions.
Opota also called on parents to prioritise education and avoid keeping children at home, saying schools provide important opportunities for learners to discover and develop their talents.
He said nurturing children’s talents could benefit learners, families and communities, particularly as more people increasingly earn a living from their skills and talents.
On behalf of the district local government, Opota pledged continued support to the Education Department to strengthen Dokolo’s performance in sports and other co-curricular activities.
The district now hopes its young talents will deliver strong performances at the national competitions and return home with medals and other awards.