Out of the need to take care of athletes and sports personalities injured on the pitch, Ndejje University has introduced a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine.

The degree expected to kick off in January 2020 will address the shortage of trained medical specialists in the field.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Eriabu Lugujjo made the revelation during a curriculum development stakeholders meeting held at the university’s post-graduate school in Rubaga, Kampala. 

Prof. Lugujjo noted that the programme is tailored to the market demand and that it’s the first of its kind in Uganda.

“This is an innovation and people will ask a number of questions about it but we are ready to answer them. The programme is about transforming patriotic Ugandans who will stay in the profession,” Lugujjo said.

He added that the introduction of the course is a paradigm shift in the training of sports medics in Uganda.

“There are no people doing this job in Uganda because you can’t have a specialised doctor working in schools, gyms and for small sports clubs,” Lugujjo added.

The program is spearheaded by Dr Haruna Muwonge who said their next move is to apply to the National Council for Higher Education to officially grant them permission to teach it. 

Muwonge also noted that the doctors treating sportsmen and athletes in Uganda are very few, hence the need to mentor young people to fill the gap.

“There are allegations that our late football star Andrew Fimbo Mukasa died of drug addiction but if we had specialists in this field, they should have saved him,” he said. 

The program focuses on care and prevention of athletic injuries, nutrition, physical and strength condition and therapeutic exercises, including clinical exercise prescription.  

Muwonge noted that after graduating, their products should be able to work as sports medicine practitioners, exercise scientists, sports coaches, sports laboratory technician and fitness directors among other areas.

Source * https://www.newvision.co.ug