For many, football is the sport people are familiar with, Ultimate Frisbee sport is something they have never heard of. The sport was introduced in Uganda by Ohio in 1942. Frisbee is a limited contact sport played with a flying disc. Frisbee points are scored by passing the disc to the teammate in the opposing end zones. Other basic rules imply that players must not take steps while holding the disc.
It is the only game that has resisted empowering a referee since American counter-culture of the late 1960s.Though the sport has been around for many years little is known about the game. “The sport is little known to the general public because of limited disclosure and public unawareness,” says Alex Queenie Matovu, the chair of the Ultimate Uganda Association.
Currently the country has many sports in Uganda but ultimate is still the last on the listing. The sport has limited supporting power and it being a stigmatized game affects it the more. Some of the sponsors include barefoot power, picfare and other global funs “It is an amusement sport. You don’t need much money to play though we still need to get sponsorship to finance the team” says Joseph Kwesiga the team captain.
Kampala Ultimate Frisbee club was introduced in 2000 with only three local players and the rest being typically British and Americans. The Kampala club team Makindye once comprised of 60% foreigners and now it is 90% local Ugandans. “It is a vast sport, interactive and interesting to play”, says Charity Ineza team player.
With the institution of many clubs in different parts of the country and East Africa at large numerous tournaments have been set where Uganda has participated. This has improved the power of the sport. Team Uganda has participated in many tournaments like World Champion of Beach ultimate Dubai, FEAST 2011(Frisbee East Africa Sand Tournament) where it qualified in the first and second position since two teams represented Uganda and the same team represented Africa in the World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF).
“We are receiving people that come up to ultimate wanting to play, the sport has also been introduced in schools to publicize it. Nobody knew about the game ten years ago but now with several clubs in the country, there are many people that have interest in the game” explains Joseph Kwesigwa, team captain.
The ultimate Frisbee sports is one of the rapid growing sport on the domestic sporting in the country since its instigation twenty years ago .Participation at the global level is a sign that will witness the richness of the sport.
rzalwango@eagle.co.ug
