LESSONS LEARNED:Kenyans need to devise ways of containing Ugandan teams

The 10th edition of East Africa University Games that ended on Tuesday at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) in Juja, left the hosts with loads of lessons.

First, Kenyan universities must work hard to contain the resurgent and competitive Ugandans, who continue to call shots in regional games.

Ugandan teams have constantly been a force to reckon with in East Africa, regardless of the championships.

During this month's East Africa Inter-parliamentary Games in Mombasa a fortnight ago, Ugandan Parliament were the overall champions, winning in almost every discipline.

It was the same trend during East Africa Secondary School Games, where Uganda also recorded impressive results.

Apart from excelling in education matters, Uganda’s Ndejje University retained the East Africa University Games overall crown. Ndejje has won the regional title for a record fifth time.

Ndejje had a haul of 94 medals that included 36 gold, 28 silver and 30 bronze.

Kyambogo University, also from Uganda, finished second with 24 medals, including 17 gold, five silver and two bronze. The only Kenyan side that came close was Kenyatta University, who were third with 56 medals (15 gold, 20 silvers and 21 bronze.)

Kenyan teams must therefore, put more emphasis on sports, if they stand chance of dethroning Uganda from the helm of East Africa Games.

Strathmore University won the rugby 7s title, but that is where all the good news ended for Kenya.

It was pure pain for United States International University (USIU) basketball teams, who failed to reach the medal brackets, despite their good records.

USIU women are not only the reigning Kenya Basketball Federation Premier League champions, but were among two clubs, including Kenya Ports Authority, that represented Kenya at the Fiba Continental Clubs championship in Mozambique, Maputo.

With such kind of experience, it was thought USIU would post better results but they finished fourth, after losing 24-36 to Kenyatta University in the third place playoffs.

USIU, who finished second in men's KBF Premier League, failed to impress, as Uganda Christian University defended their title after a 61-49 win over compatriots, Ndejje.

Masinde Muliro bagged a rare gold in women’s football.