The Minister of State for Sports, Peter Ogwang, has been asked to present a comprehensive statement to Parliament addressing the recent cancellation of the Uganda Netball Federation’s certificate by the National Council of Sports (NCS).
The decision follows concerns raised by Speaker Anita Among about the country’s netball team, the She Cranes, missing the 2023 African championship in Botswana.
While presiding over the session on Tuesday, Speaker Among expressed her worries saying, “Considering the fact that netball is one of our most successful sporting disciplines and that it is played by women, Vice President, you need to see what to do for our girls.”
In response, Vice President Jessica Alupo attributed the cancellation of the netball federation’s certificate to accountability gaps. She clarified that the She Cranes’ absence from the Botswana games was not due to the certificate cancellation but rather because other participating teams withdrew from the tournament. This led the World Netball Federation to declare the event unsuitable for the remaining teams.
“The She Cranes will play two international matches in London and Wales in January. The operations of the She Cranes have not been hampered in any way,” added Alupo.
She assured that discussions were underway with the World Netball Federation, the National Council of Sports, and the Ministry of Education and Sports to reinstate the certificate of the Uganda Netball Federation.
In light of these developments, Speaker Among assigned the State Minister for Sports, Ogwang, the task of presenting a detailed report on the matter. This report is expected to guide Parliament’s decision on the future of the Uganda Netball Federation.
Additionally, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee has been directed to present a report on its ongoing investigation into the affairs of the Uganda Netball Federation.