By David Martin Aliker
World Embrace (W.E), a Gulu- based Christian Non-Governmental organization has contributed 12 million shillings and pledged another 35 million to support preparations for the East Africa Athletics Games scheduled for August in Gulu.
Gulu municipality was chosen to host the event but the dilapidated state of Pece War Memorial, expected to be one of the facilities to host the games, sent the Gulu district authorities in a fundraising drive, with time quickly running out and the games only about three months away.
World Embrace is one of the organisations that heeded the call to contribute resources to enable Gulu municipality prepare for the games.
The 12 million was used for the renovation of two basketball courts at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu town while the 35 million pledge will go towards the renovation of Pece stadium which has already been graded by a Chinese construction company working on the nearby Jomo Kenyatta Road.
The 35 million shillings has already been wired to an account opened for funds raised for the renovation of Pece. Signatories to the account include Kathy Mainse co-founder World Embrace, Irene Atek, the Mega FM station Manager and the Gulu municipality town Town Clerk Francis Barabanawe.
Reynold Mainse, a Canadian national is the president of World Embrace which prides itself as ‘‘a Christ centered organization seeking to do the will of God.’’ Contributing towards the games, the organization said, is one way of serving and connecting with young people.
St Joseph College Layibi and Sacred Heart Girls Schools will host the championship, while Pece Stadium and Kaunda Grounds, among other facilities, will host the games.
Layibi College will also host the swimming championship and the construction of a 25 meter Pool is ongoing on and is expected to be complete by July.
Games that will be played include athletics, football, rugby, basketball, netball, handball, hockey, Volleyball and swimming. In door spots will include chess and badminton.
Other Uganda towns that have in the past hosted the East African Athletics Games include Kampala, Mbarara, Fort Portal and Lira.
