Sports Will Wait Even After Lockdown Is Lifted – Minister Obua

State Minister for Sports Hon Hamson Obua has clarified on the pressing issue of when Sports in Uganda will return.

Sports has been on hold since the government announced a ban on public gatherings in mid March because of the Covid19 pandemic.

Speaking to Sports Federations in a Zoom conference meeting organised by National Council of Sports on Tuesday, Obua said that sports activities will go on when two conditions are satisfied:

“When Uganda contains Covid19, and two, when the Ministry of Sports and Education working with the guidelines issued by the national task force and Ministry of Healthy advises.”

NCS general Secretary Dr. Patrick Bernard Ogwel had earlier, in his opening remarks, also stated that contact sports will have to wait even when lockdown is lifted.

New NCS Chairman Dr Donald Rukare who introduced his board members, said that they are prioritising the healthy of players and it will be important to introduce sports when healthy conditions permits.

Minister Obua stated that the pandemic has hit sports on the wrong side where the budget has been grossly affected.

The sports sector has consequently taken Sh8bn budget cut; NCS will be receiving 17bn instead of 25bn next year.

“No one knew, no one was prepared for this. All is not lost; we have made engagements with Minister of Education and Sports Hon Janat Kataaha Museveni, Speaker of Parliament and Minister of Healthy about the budget issue.

“We are optimistic that government will get more revenue and we will be able to get our resources. We should not lose hope though we have to tighten our seat belts.”

This was the first online conference held by NCS to interact with the federations.

Other issues discused included office space at Namboole and the availability of the stadiums to host games among others.

FUFA was represented by Vice President Justus Mugisha and CEO Edgar Watson, Cricket had CEO Martin Ondeko and operations manager John Trust Mayeku, Nasser Sserunjogi (FUBA), Moses Muhangi (UBF), Hadijja Namanda (UVF), Cedric Babu (Tennis), Bob Trubish (PAU), Moses Mwase (USF) etc.

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