Uganda's Sports Federations race against time to meet NCS compliance deadline

With the June 20 deadline fast approaching, Uganda's sports federations are scrambling to meet the stringent requirements of the National Council of Sports (NCS) Law, sparking concerns across the sporting community.

NCS General Secretary Bernard Ogwel has taken a firm stance, warning federations against protests instead of action.

"Rather than cry foul, federations should engage the relevant entities to meet registration requirements," he stated during a recent consultative meeting at Lugogo's CHAN/AFCON offices. The gathering brought together 33 federations under the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), many of which pleaded for extended timelines given the logistical and financial hurdles they face.

A major point of contention is the mandate for federations to establish 75% district coverage nationwide, while associations must reach 50%. For niche sports like archery, this presents near-impossible challenges.

"The intent is good, but sports like ours require expensive imported equipment and face heavy taxation," explained Richard Assimwe, President of the Uganda Archery Federation. "You can't expect nationwide rollout in two months when even basic gear is hard to procure."

The compliance criteria appear to favor mainstream sports, leaving disciplines like rowing, gymnastics, and equestrian at a distinct disadvantage due to their specialized infrastructure needs.

UOC President Donald Rukare urged a dual approach: "We must keep pushing for compliance while continuing dialogue with government."

State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang is set to meet federations soon to address these concerns, but time is running out. As the deadline looms, Uganda's sporting bodies face a stark choice - adapt to the new standards or risk exclusion from the country's formal sports framework.

The coming weeks will test whether Uganda's sports administration can balance ambitious reform with practical reality.