Sport has been on hold since mid March when government announced a directive to stop all social gatherings in a bid to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sports administrators have used the opportunity to initiate a debate on the state of local sport in relation to global trends.
First, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) which organized an online meeting that attracted 88 participants on zoom and was also transmitted on both 102.1 FM FM and FUFA's Facebook page.
“First we want to build trust between NCS and UOC, NCS and the federations and then NCS and the general public. Where we agree to disagree, we must do so on principle,” NCS chairman Don Rukare said about the importance of the engagement.
The meeting however largely turned out to show what the country is missing by continuing to keep its sports sector largely amateur because of the 1964 Sports Act that essentially looks at the sector as recreational is outdated not suited for the commercial sport.
“Sports is an economically viable sector capable of stimulating the economy during the post-COVID-19 period but we continue to be categorized with bars as leisure. We need synergy to speak together for better funding and infrastructure,” Magogo said.
The other issue discussed at the meeting included building personal brands of athletes with sports administrators often competing for media space with athletes.
Betway Uganda’s Zakia Maseruka warned that sport out to track and grow its own numbers before courting sponsors.
"Let me play devil's advocate and ask what numbers are we giving to sponsors? Let us step away from pointing fingers and provide value," she said after discussants deemed it unfair for corporate entities not to give back to society through sponsorships.
Relatedly, NCS instituted a committee to formulate standard operating procedures to guide member Federations upon resumption of sports activities in the country.
The committee, headed by Dr. George Galiwango (NCS Council Member) is expected to meet May 30 to discuss the proposed standard operating procedures as provided by federations.
The working committee :
Dr. George Galiwango (NCS Council Member) – Chairman
Dr. Nana Nakiddu – Head of Uganda Olympic Committee Medical commission
Mrs. Cecilia Anyakoit – Chair, NCS Technical Committee
Mrs. Beatrice (UOC/Vice President) – Technical and General Secretary, Uganda Athletics Federation
Mr. Moses Matsiko – President Uganda Golf Union
Mr. Nasser Sserunjogi – President Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA)
Mr. Ganzi Mugula – UOC, Head of Athletics Commission
Joshua Cheptegei – Athlete.