By: NAKAKANDE SHIBAH
A board game played by two people and comprised of 64 squares ,with each player’s quest to bring down their enemy king . Chess is a brain game that requires the player’s intelligence , attention , thinking most of all just as any other game discipline .The fact that Chess contributes to the child’s intelligence , it should be fronted in schools not as a subject but as a priority for every child , members of Parliament in Uganda are encouraged to play Chess for its cardinal role in developing one’s memory.
“ playing Chess helps students develop thinking and analyzing skills , concentration , greater self control and self confidence . We have evidence that Chess in schools works” said Bill Clinton .
In Uganda chess picked up in 1960, in 1972 the Uganda Chess Federation commenced as a governing body to the game and presided over by Emmanuel Mwaka . International Masters in Chess are owned by Uganda in East and Central Africa, over 30 chess instructors exist in Uganda to pass on skills onto the young generation. Under three Certified Chess academies that’s to say S.O.M chess Academy , Chess Life Academy and Uganda Chess Academy.
In early 2021, Gift of Chess came to light whose goal is to Distribute 1000000 chess sets by 2030 to Public School Students. 1000+ chess sets have been distributed in Kenya and Uganda . Lately Gift of Chess is in Malawi with Susan Namangale the newly appointed Head of G.O.C together with Baron Edgar to capture moments from this adventure .
During the Gift of Chess time in Malawi, Queen of Malawi Chess 13 year old Jennifer Justin who applauds Chess for her journey in education .
“When I started playing Chess , It made me think fast and I started performing well in class. I expect when I write my standard 8 exam I will be selected for secondary school. And after my University I’ll start working and be able to support my parents with what they need .
II have played chess in Bwaira Lingadzi in Lilongwe , Blantyre and Zambia and I will not stop playing Chess.” Said Justine when speaking to The Gift of Chess.
She was gifted a new chess board by Susan Namangale enabling her to teach her friends the game. A narrative story “ The Queen Katwe”, whose story line evolves around a character’s life Phiona who lived in the Slums of Katwe . On meeting Robert Katende a chess expert , teaches her the game hence changing her life that was engulfed by poverty . It was released in September 2016 shot in the Slums of Katwe.
Earlier on this year ,23 April Tunde Onakoya the ambassador Gift of Chess visited Katwe, where he met Elijah a four year old passionate and enthusiastic with chess together with a number of children devoted to being champions in Chess. Come Let’s Reason Together just like the motto of Chess emphasizes is the everyone’s Future that requires grooming from the roots ,here we talk of schools and community.
