Netball elections next month

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Netball Normalization Committee in Uganda will next month conduct fresh polls to elect Netball Federation Executive Committee members.

Moses Mwase, the Chairperson of the ad-hoc Normalization Committee for Netball in the country told journalists at the Uganda Olympic Committee headquarters that they have set a roadmap to hold elections.

Before the election, Mwase explained that the Committee had already reached out to several stakeholders to convene a general assembly that will adopt a new constitution that the normalization has drafted.

Mwase explained that the existing constitution was rendered invalid when the National Council of Sports revoked the Netball Federation’s certificate of recognition. One notable proposal in the new constitution is the renaming of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) to “Netball Uganda.”

But, before Mwase addressed journalists, a section of Netball stakeholders led by Rosette Kaala, formerly, the head of technical at the Uganda Netball Federation had already told journalists that they had petitioned the World Netball to revoke the Normalization committee because it failed to fulfil its mandate.

Kaala criticized the committee for disregarding existing structures within the sport, and also neglecting key stakeholders including former players and umpires, and for and among others. Kala also rejected the proposal to rename UNF to Netball Uganda.

Kaala further questioned the decision to appoint Mwase, whose primary background is in swimming, to lead the committee. Kaala contends that the role should be filled by someone more familiar with the game of netball.

In November 2023, World Netball established the four-member ad-hoc committee, chaired by Mwase, with the responsibility of overseeing the day-to-day operations of the UNF. The committee also includes Peace Proscovia, representing athletes, Cecilia Anyacoti from the National Sports Council, and Leticia Namutebi from the Commonwealth Games Athletes Commission.

Part of what the committee was mandated to do was to organize for the election of the Netball Federation leader and also draft a new Federation constitution that was supposed to be adopted by the Netball stakeholders in the country.

The turmoil within Uganda’s netball administration began when the National Council of Sports (NCS) revoked the UNF’s certificate of recognition due to unresolved governance and leadership issues.

The challenges cited by the NCS include unresolved governance and leadership issues, failure to follow constitutional provisions for executive committee elections, incorrect procedures to amend the constitution, and lack of transparency regarding funding sources.

This development however came amid a long-standing dispute between Sarah Babirye Kityo, the UNF President, and Dr. Patrick Ogwel, the NCS General Secretary. Kityo had sued the NCS, challenging alleged interference in UNF activities and accusations of misappropriation of funds orchestrated by Ogwel.

But, since, the Federation’s certificate was revoked, the progress of Netball has been deteriorating day in and day out with the National team missing a couple of important tournaments like the recently concluded African Nations Championship.

Previously UNF was responsible for overseeing the National Netball team; the She Cranes, and over time, the She Cranes had consistently delivered outstanding performances both on the continent and the global stage. During the recent Netball World Cup, the She Cranes achieved a fifth-place finish overall and were recognized as the best African team.

This outstanding performance paved the way for more than five national team players to secure professional contracts with clubs outside of Uganda. As per the National Sports Act 2023, following the withdrawal of the recognition certificate, UNF was prohibited from organizing any national representation for Uganda in international competitions.

****

URN