Uncertain about where their stand-off with National Council of Sports will end, 24 sports bodies are seeking President Yoweri Museveni’s intervention.
The petitioners view the president’s attention as a crucial step in ending a looming crisis, which they fear, could result in Uganda’s exclusion from international events.
Amidst all this, is a warning by the International Olympic Committee that failure to amicably settle the impasse could be disastrous for Uganda.
Meeting under the chairmanship of Uganda Olympic Committee president William Blick at Lugogo yesterday, the complainants were unanimously in for the petition.
This all follows new sports regulations that virtually all the 54 bodies registered with NCS failed to fulfill within a six month deadline last year.
NCS has stated that failure to comply is tantamount to the respective bodies rendering themselves defunct.
The petitioners describe the new regulations as ambiguous, hastily drawn and also in some sections excessive.
“Accordingly, we, the undersigned do hereby petition Your Excellency, requesting your urgent intervention in the matter to prevent a full blown international sports crisis that will negatively impact on Uganda at this very sensitive time leading to the 2016 general elections.”
The petitioners want Museveni’s audience to enable them articulate their position.
“We also want to bring to your attention specific challenges that continue to inhibit advancement of sports in the country,” read the petition in part.
The sports bodies were also riled by a communication to all embassies that only NCS can recommend sportsmen for foreign travel.
Blick explained that the petition follows failure to get the indulgence of Minister Jessica Alupo.
“Our earlier petition was blatantly ignored by the honourable minister, who together with NCS have done little or nothing to address the issues raised,” stated Blick.
Shortly after the initial petition, a civil society organization, Legal Brains Trust took the matter to court.
Court has since issued a temporary injunction barring the Attorney General and NCS from proceeding on the matter.
Several association heads at the meeting wondered why despite the injunction, the ministry and NCS have continued with the campaign to disband the sports bodies.
They note that this trend has alarmed associations/federations, many of whom feel that this sort of action puts upcoming local and international events in balance.
By James Bakama, The New Vision
