MINISTER’S FORUM

On Tuesday May 28, the state minister for sports, Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi, hosted the first Minister’s Forum as mandated in Section 17 of the 2014 Statutory Instrument.

The forum brought together heads of national associations and federations’ president/chairman’s and their general secretaries/chief executive officers.

The open forum had associations demand that National Council of Sports (NCS) comes up with a threshold figure of money given to associations.

Also, tax waivers on sports equipment and the need for planning were discussed.

The minister was accompanied by the Under Secretary Aggrey David Kibenge and the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports Omara Apita.

NCS Chairman Bosco Onyik and the acting general secretary Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel were the hosts.

NCS TUTORS ACCOUNTANTS ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENTS

On Wednesday May 29, National Council of Sports (NCS) hosted financial managers of the affiliated national associations/federations for a one-day capacity building workshop on effective financial management.

The workshop was addressed by the Under Secretary Ministry of Education and Sports, Aggrey David Kibenge, the Commissioner for Physical Education and Sports Omara Apita and the Commissioner – Accounts Gabriel Opio.

NCS Chairman Bosco Onyik was represented by board member Haji Zuabir Galiwango while the acting general secretary Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel gave an address.

Financial managers were taken through sessions by Mr. Kibenge, Opio and a consultant Martin P’Oburu with planning and budgeting at the centre.

BUDGET INCREMENT

When the 2019/2020 National Budget is read out in June, the sports subsector will be smiling following an increment from Shs17bn to Shs26bn.

This was confirmed by the acting general secretary National Council of Sports (NCS) Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel during the inaugural Minister’s Forum held at the Copper Chimney Restaurant Conference Hall, Lugogo.

In that new government package, Sh6bn will go to infrastructure development that is the High Altitude Training Centre.

Another Sh1.5bn will remain in Physical Education and Sports while the remainder will be shared by federations and NCS for its operations.

FOOTBALL

UCU Lady Cardinals ended Kawempe Muslim’s four-year reign as champions of the Fufa Women’s Elite League with a 4-2 victory at the Startimes Stadium, Lugogo on Thursday.

The result earned through goals by Cissy Nakate, an own goal by defender Rehema Adubango, Hasifa Nassuna and Moreen Kinavudori in the semifinal playoffs booked UCU’s place in the final.

UCU will face Lady Doves in the final after the latter’s 1-0 victory over Kampala Queens with Riticia Nabbosa scoring the winner.

VOLLEYBALL

On Friday May 31, National Council of Sports (NCS) assistant general secretary David Katende flagged off the national volleyball team ahead of the Zone V All Africa Games qualifiers in Nairobi, Kenya.

The team that has three foreign-based players in Daudi Okello, Ivan Ongom and Kathbert Malinga was urged to ‘die a little for the country’ by Mr. Katende.

They were accompanied by Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) president Hadija Namanda who also received Shs5m from NCS as government’s contribution.

TENNIS PRO CIRCUIT
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro circuit was dragged into week four due to persistent rains around Kampala over the past one month.

The tournament was completed on Tuesday May 28.

WOODBALL
Uganda finished second behind world champions Chinese Taipei after tying on six gold medals but the Asians were ahead with seven silver, three better than the host nation at the second Beach Woodball World Cup that ended at Spennah Beach, Entebbe on May 30.

The event was opened by the minister for general duties Mary Karoro Okurut who represented the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mama Janet Kataha Museveniu along with the state minister for sports Charles Bakkabulindi.

The NCS chairman Bosco Onyik and acting general secretary Dr. Benard Patrick Ogwel attended. The speaker of parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga closed the event.