UNICEF funds construction of children's parks

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has allocated funds for the construction of children's play parks, with a focus on Faith-based Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC), including those affiliated with the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council-UMSC, through a partnership with UNICEF.

Previously, East African Playgrounds implemented the children's parks in districts hosting refugees, acting on behalf of UNICEF.

Muhammad Kateregga Namuguzi, the National Programme Coordinator of the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) and UNICEF partnership announced that this initiative has now been expanded to include learning centres catering to refugee communities around Kampala.

The UMSC Education department, with the approval of the National Management Committee, has chosen Nateete Muslim Primary School in Lubaga Muslim District to host the Children's Park, which is valued at 150 million Shillings.

This announcement was made during a brief function held in the school library, officiated by Mr. Siminyu Denis Adero, National Training Manager at East African Playgrounds.

Dismas Lwangula, Monitoring & Evaluation Coordinator at the same organization, was also present.

Sulaiman Musana Kawanguzi, the UMSC protocol officer representing the National Management Committee, expressed profound gratitude to UNICEF for the donation. He emphasized the historical significance of the selected site, as it marks the spot where the first group of Arabs and Swahili people who introduced the Islamic faith settled upon their arrival in present-day Uganda.

"This spot holds historical importance as it was where learning, including circumcision, first took place among the Muslim natives, leading to the assimilation of Arabic words into our native languages," said Musana.

Kateregga then shared how his childhood involvement in soccer enabled him to secure free secondary and university education, despite being born into a well-to-do family.

"My soccer skills propelled me to become a football star, playing for the National Football team - Uganda Cranes, and eventually winning a contract to play for a team in the Middle Eastern country of Oman, where I earned a substantial fortune in dollars," recounted Kateregga.

He stressed the importance of such facilities in nurturing children's talents. Mr. Adero emphasized the crucial role of play in children's development, stating that these facilities are designed to stimulate learning while engaging in play. He pledged to collaborate with the community to ensure that the facility meets high standards and is completed on schedule.

Additional speeches praising the project were delivered by Ibrahim Kanyerezi, Lower UMSC Country Secretary for Education, Kanatera Ahmed Uthuman, Headteacher of Nateete Muslim Primary School, and Prince Haruna Mawanda, Chairman of the School Management Committee.