It is 10 years since Cricket Without Boundaries visited northern Uganda for the first time. The project in 2012 funded by UK Sport, Uganda Cricket Association and the ICC targeted three regions, Lira, Gula and Arua.
In 2006, northern Uganda was nearing the end of the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency. Some 1.8 million people had been displaced and tens of thousands kidnapped, mutilated, or killed so a key focus of the original project alongside reintroducing the game was as a conflict resolution exercise using cricket as a tool to promote community cohesion, conflict prevention, and peace and development. It was also hoped that the project would contribute to the integration of former child soldiers into society using cricket as an engagement tool.
This short video of Patrick a teacher from Otim Tom Primary School gives more details on how sport helped with integration in the area.
I was lucky enough to be on that original 3 week trip led by fellow ECB Tutor and CWB stalwart Rich Davies. 10 years on to be back in Gulu seems a good time to take stock, see what progress has been made and importantly think how we can look to future plans.
The first obvious difference is the Gulu itself, it feels bigger and more developed, higher buildings, a big central market and better infrastructure all-round. Certainly, more places to eat which is always a bonus.
But what about the cricket, this feels a more subtle change rather than a dramatic leap, in 2012 I remember there was absolutely no knowledge of the game, all the teacher training and schools coaching we did was right from the basics, this is a bat, these are the wickets etc. We are a step on from that now, visiting schools it is clear that there is at least a basic understanding of the game. Children bowling with a straight arm is always a good barometer of progress.
The university is leading the way with students holding regular inter-faculty tournaments and with 18 new ICC Level 1 coaches getting their accreditation on this project this can only help in it becoming a hotbed of cricket in the region.
The biggest change for cricket in the area has to be the construction of a ground and net facility at St Joseph’s College, Layibi. The Northern Knights Cricket Academy founded in 2020 was born out of the successful hubs programme created by CWB and funded by Durham County Cricket Club Foundation. A coming together of local businesses with the support of the Uganda Cricket Association led to the creation of the academy and ground and this type of partnership is clearly needed to grow the game outside of Kampala.
A lazy (by CWB standards) Sunday afternoon enabled a quick 10 over match to take place between a CWB XI and a team largely consisting of university players. I am happy to report that in a close encounter CWB managed to get over the line as winners as the university team fell just 3 runs short of the imposing 62 set earlier, after some early wobbles the CWB innings was anchored beautifully by Clare Sanderson and some dynamic running at the end by Jon Merrett proved the difference. There was very little of note to report from the CWB performance with the ball.
So, what’s next? Thanks to sponsorship from our partners at the MCC Foundations, 2 local coaches will be employed to visit schools weekly as well as run community sessions on the weekends and in school holidays. There is also additional budget to create regional tournaments as we know these are good drivers for engagement as they provide a focal point for players and schools to aim at.
But what is clear is much more is needed if we want to make cricket sustainable in Gulu, more equipment, so that each school has their own to use in PE lessons would be huge and I am hopeful we can help on this with other partners who focus on this area but the biggest job has to fall on the Uganda Cricket Association, it is hard for organisations with limited resources to put their focus outside of national teams and into grassroots but I truly believe that the best way for them to improve at all levels is to try harder outside of Kampala.
There are talented boys and girls in every corner of this country and it is their duty to make sure that all are given every opportunity to go where that talent can take them.
Lee Booth
CWB Head of Delivery
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