Uganda’s Parliament netball team has stepped up preparations for the 16th East African Community (EAC) Inter-Parliamentary Games, with the players facing a stern warning to raise their commitment ahead of the December showdown in Arusha, Tanzania.

With less than 60 days to the regional competition, the Ugandan netballers are intensifying their training as they target a successful defence of the title won on home soil in the previous edition.

Uganda dominated the last tournament, going unbeaten on the way to the netball crown, and the team now faces the challenge of reproducing that performance away from home.

Speaking during Thursday’s training session at Lugogo Sports Complex, Hon. Babirye Kityo Sarah, the Bukoto East County MP in Masaka District, Team Uganda manager and one of the team’s shooters, demanded greater discipline and commitment from the players.

Babirye warned that no player should assume a place on the final squad, insisting that training attendance and performance will be key factors in selection.

She challenged her teammates to prepare both physically and mentally, while making it clear that repeated absenteeism could cost players their places on the flight to Tanzania.

The team is being guided by veteran tactician Fred Mugerwa Tabale, with training currently taking place Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 9:00am.

The preparations form part of Uganda’s wider campaign for the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games, with teams in football, basketball, volleyball, tug of war and athletics also stepping up their training programmes.

Uganda travels to Arusha as the reigning overall champions, putting added pressure on the delegation to maintain the country’s dominance at the regional parliamentary games.

For the netball team, however, the immediate target is clear: defend the crown, remain unbeaten and ensure Uganda’s dominance continues beyond home soil.