The National Council of Sports (NCS) has withdrawn the Certificate of Recognition from the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF).
“The UNF will no longer conduct any business to do with the sport, on behalf of the Government of Uganda,” reads a Wednesday statement signed by NCS Chairperson, Ambrose Tashobya.
He said the decision arose out of the persistent governance and leadership challenges that have engulfed the UNF, and due to the failure of the UNF to follow the laws of Uganda and their own statutes.
“We would like the sports fraternity and the general public to know that these governance issues and leadership challenges were brought to the attention of the National Council of Sports (NCS) and the Ministry of Education and Sports two and a half years ago for amicable resolution, but all the official processes followed since that time have failed.”
The NCS Board in their meeting held on Wednesday 25th October 2023 resolved that the Certificate of Recognition issued to Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) on the 6th day of June 2016 vide Recognition No. NCS/R/15/No.021 be withdrawn with immediate effect.
They accuse UNF of failure to abide by the Constitutional provisions of Uganda Netball Federation (2012) for the election of the Executive Committee and failure to follow the correct procedure to amend the Constitution of UNF- contrary to clause 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation issued under the Trustees Incorporation Act, Cap 165.
They also cited a failure to resolve the governance and leadership challenges within the Uganda Netball Federation – contrary to Section 15(1)(f), of the National Sports Act, 2023, failure to disclose sources of funding to the National Council of Sports – contrary to Section 22 of the National Sports Act, 2023 and Regulation 16(2) of the National Council of Sports- Statutory Instrument No. 38 of 2014 and failure to inform National Council of Sports of the several bank accounts that the Uganda Netball Federation resolved to open without following procedures and their use of forged and unauthorised documents to open these accounts.
“That notwithstanding, UNF may reapply for recognition once the issues that have led to the withdrawal of the Certificate of Recognition have been addressed,” said Tashobya.
“The NCS assures the sports fraternity and the people of Uganda that we remain steadfast and firm in our resolve to develop, promote and control all sports in the country, as we are mandated to do,” he added.