By Victor Turinawe
The Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Prof. Aaron Mushengyenzi, has launched a solar-powered outdoor scoreboard meant to be used by all indoor sports disciplines. During the launch at Bishop Tucker, the developers led by their team leader, Ivan Joseph Lubulwa, explained how the system operates and highlighted its significance in advancing sports technology.
One of the developers, Bak Kau Nak, explained that the scoreboard is designed to support multiple sports, including basketball, football, volleyball, netball, and any other sport that requires timekeeping and scoring.
“In basketball, for example, the game can be set to 10-minute quarters, and the countdown begins immediately. There is also a 24-second shot clock. The system automatically records stoppages and live play. Every time the game stops, the clock stops, and when play resumes, the clock continues,” explained Nak.
The scoreboard also records scores depending on whether a team scores one, two, or three points. In addition, it is fitted with a buzzer that sounds when time elapses or whenever officials need to signal during the game. It has a visibility range of about 70 metres, making it easier for players, officials, and fans to follow the game. “We can proudly say that this is the first solar-powered outdoor scoreboard in East Africa,” said Nak.
The scoreboard was designed and developed by students of Uganda Christian University (UCU), with support from staff members, tutors, and former UCU Engineering students Moses Sekitoleko and Margaret Achola. The Vice Chancellor, Prof Mushengyenzi, commended the innovation and encouraged the students to think bigger.
“I would like to recommend that we now think about a bigger international-standard scoreboard. This was a test case, but now we can move to something much bigger and more visible,” stated Prof Mushengyenzi.
The team revealed plans to develop a solar-powered pavilion that could light up the entire sports arena, including floodlights. According to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology (FEDT), Dr Miria Frances Agunyo, the proposed solar pavilion could generate more than 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity, with half of the power dedicated to lighting the sports arena and the remainder supporting other energy needs on campus.
The estimated cost of the pavilion project is about Shs200 million. However, the team hopes to secure partnerships and grants from organisations such as GIZ and the Ministry of Energy to support the initiative.
The Head of Sports at UCU, David Samuel Lukaire, appreciated the students from the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology (FEDT) for turning their idea into a reality.
“When they pitched the idea to me, it looked like a far-fetched dream, but now it is a reality within a short period of time,” said Lukaire.
The project, which cost Shs 4.5 million and was accomplished within a period of five months, was worked on by a group of 11 students from FEDT. They include Ivan Joseph Lubulwa, Bak Kau Nak, Prisca Atim, Barnabas Taremwa, Micheal Ono, Godwin Ssebagala, Phiona Wamba, Lucky Opwonya, Joel Namonyo Mbonyo, Jesse Atuhaire Elishama and Vivas Ayebare.
Photos by Andrew Bugembe
