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Japan News Release 

25th January 2014　

 

Japan Constructs Baseball and Softball Field at Gayaza through the Grant of USD 122,175

 

 

Today, the Embassy of Japan is to hand over a project of JPY 9.896 million (approximately US$ 122,175) for the construction of a baseball and softball field in Wakiso District.  

 

H.E. Junzo Fujuta, Ambassador of Japan to Uganda, will officiate the commissioning of the project.

 

The Uganda Baseball and Softball Association was founded in 1989 under the National Council of Sports. The association has a membership of over 460 primary and secondary schools where baseball and softball are practiced as extra-curricular activity. In addition, more than 400 young people have been registered as full-time players with club teams in 6 regions. Although there are over 6,500 baseball players, they currently play baseball and softball at grounds in bad condition or at school grounds, cricket stadiums and soccer fields as there is no appropriate ground for baseball games and tournaments. Due to the limited places for practice or official games, many youths and children have given up playing the sports. Through this project, the first full-size baseball field in Uganda has been constructed and over 20,000 young baseball and softball players will be able to enjoy and use the new facilities.

 

This donation by Japan is the first project to be funded under the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects in Uganda. Through this grant, Japan promotes cultural and physical education activities in developing countries. The empowerment of the young generation physically and mentally through sports is one of the priority areas of Japan’s ODA as well as a new initiative “Sport for Tomorrow”, aiming to promote sports and the Olympic movement.

 

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The hand-over ceremony will take place today 25th January 2014 at Gayaza in Wakiso District starting at 9:00 am.
Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi is invited as a guest.

 

Your media house is kindly invited to cover the function.
Please find attached details of the project.

 

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Kikome Yunia (Public Affairs Section) yunia.masembe@kp.mofa.go.jp
Ms. Chieko Nakayama (GGP Section) nakayama.chieko@kp.mofa.go.jp
Embassy of Japan in Uganda http://www.ug.emb-japan.go.jp/
P. O. Box 23553, Kampala
Tel: 0414-349542/3/4, 031-2261564/5/6

The Project for Construction of a Baseball and Softball Field