By Zaki Hasan
Normalisation committee has constructed a successful constitutional meeting with Netball stake Holders to see new constitution put in place though some members meeting were an convinced with the constitution which got greenlights from World Netball.
During the meeting held at Lugogo Indoor on 20th September 2024, some of Netball people were not allowed in the sitting with the organizers condemning their coming without being invited.
The information from the organizers is not contrary to that of the 47 member which were denied access to the meeting as they claim for having been invited through their regional delegates.
By the statutes at Normalisation committee books delegates is something which is not available since Uganda netball federation were ceased due to improper governance.
By now Netball sport is no longer at books of Uganda government sports Arm the National council of Sports following the withdrawal of Uganda netball federation certificate last year 2024.
Olson Wanyama who was the delegate of Busia Main and also the top leader of Busia regional was one of the disallowed people into the meeting and he showed his disappointment in the act.
“We were elected, we served the game it is not sporting that something which was committee by one person must affect all of us, for the meeting we were invited via phone and when we arrived they blocked us from entering the arena”
Normalisation committee chairman Moses Mwase revealed on the situation that the new national netball body will be put in place via elections set for 26 October 2024 and therefore now there is no any netball delegate.
It has been a long term case study of Netball sport situation in Uganda and now it seems like that the process may yield beneficial fruit for the game following the pass of the new constitution.
In the constitution which changed the body from Uganda Netball Federation to Netball Uganda.
Key acts are on qualifications of standing for Body top sits as it will require academic Diploma and a certificate in sports management.
The constitution also opened age limit and male stakeholders to start standing for Uganda Netball presidency as long as they meet with the requirements.
On the constitution Ronald Nakabaale the Secretary of Makindye Weyonje Netball who managed to be a part of the meeting was not pleased
“It is like the meeting is a staged managed event to approve everything in the constitution, it is sad that even observers have contributed by moving motions and seconding,
On qualifications in Netball we have very few people with that qualifications it is unfair for our people with the real heart of netball”
Brigadier general Flavia Byekwaso who has been planning to stand for the presidency in the upcoming elections also warned to fight so that the some part of the constitution is refuted.
“The constitution is passed but am not sure that it is passed for the better of Netball sport, I suspect that it is a target for me because they have passed some qualifications which I don’t have it was intended to lock me out, I am going to appeal in the parliament, in Uganda the top qualifications for any public office is A level, even in Netball you will find very few people with such qualifications.
But also it is not the end of the world, we have lost but we going petition and also go for courses to acquire better qualifications”
Normalisation committee chairman Mwase said that standing is only requires any certificate in sports management.
The meeting were attended by World Netball representative Joan Smith.
