Namulumba: Motherhood gave me new strength to keep playing netball

For many female athletes, motherhood presents a difficult balancing act between raising a child and pursuing a sporting career.

For She Cranes player and Prisons Netball Club captain Christine Namulumba, however, becoming a mother was not the end of her netball journey but an opportunity to discover a new source of strength.

Namulumba's return to the court after childbirth required patience, determination and support from those around her as she worked to regain her fitness while adjusting to the demands of motherhood.

"My journey as a mother and an athlete has been challenging, but also very rewarding. Becoming a mother changed many things for me, but it did not change my love for netball or my desire to represent Uganda," Namulumba said.

The transition required her to balance training, travel and competition with the responsibilities of raising her child. There were difficult moments when exhaustion and uncertainty threatened to overwhelm her, but she remained determined to continue her career.

"Bouncing back was not something that happened overnight. I had to be patient with myself and allow my body to recover. I gradually returned to training, worked hard on my fitness and stayed committed to the process," she said.

"I was not only playing for myself anymore; I was also showing my child that with determination, commitment and the right support, you can overcome challenges," she said.

Beyond her personal resolve, Namulumba credits her teammates for helping her navigate the demands of motherhood during the championship.

Travelling with her baby presented an additional challenge, particularly when she needed to concentrate on matches. However, her fellow players stepped in to help, ensuring she could focus on her responsibilities on court without neglecting her child.

"The support I received from my fellow players was amazing. They were very supportive and would help me with the baby whenever I needed assistance. Most of the time, Kigizi Gonzaga would hold the baby while I was on court playing," she said.

The experience reinforced the importance of teamwork beyond the court, with her teammates becoming part of her support system throughout the tournament.

Namulumba also faced doubts from people who questioned whether she would regain her previous form after childbirth. Some comments suggested that having a child meant her sporting career should take a back seat.

Rather than allowing the criticism to discourage her, she used it as motivation to prove to herself that she could still compete at the highest level.

"Sometimes you hear comments that make you feel like your career should now take a back seat because you have a child. But instead of allowing those comments to discourage me, I used them as motivation. I wanted to prove to myself first that I could do it," she said.

Drawing from her experience, Namulumba urges fellow athletes who become mothers not to abandon their sporting ambitions. She advises them to allow their bodies enough time to recover, rebuild their fitness gradually and seek help when necessary.

She also encourages mothers to embrace the changes that come with parenthood rather than compare their progress with their pre-pregnancy performances.

She explains that the journey may look different after having a baby, but that does not mean you cannot still achieve great things.