The National Council of Sports (NCS) has officially communicated a significant reduction in budget allocations to various national sports federations for the fiscal year 2024/2025.
This adjustment follows directives from the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, reflecting a broader reconsideration of the Appropriation Bill and approved budget estimates by the parliament.
In a letter dated 3rd July 2024, the Permanent Secretary highlighted the necessity of budget revisions, attributing them to concerns raised by President Yoweri Museveni.
Consequently, the NCS budget for FY 2024/2025 has been slashed by UGC 20.38 billion. This reduction has prompted a reevaluation and adjustment of the funds allocated to all 51 registered national sports associations and federations in Uganda.
The NCS General Secretary, Dr. Ogweil Bernard Patrick, has urged all federations to realign their budget priorities in accordance with the new allocations. Federations are required to submit their revised budgets to the NCS by 10th July 2024.
Among the affected federations, notable adjustments have been made across various categories. The Federation of Uganda Football Association, initially allocated UGC 17,131,249,000, will face a 17.21% cut.
Other significant reductions include the Uganda Athletics Federation, Uganda Rugby Union, and the Federation of Uganda Motor Sports, each experiencing a 17.21% decrease in their allocations.
Smaller federations, categorized under Subvention Recurrent (Support to Federations Category 4 and 5), such as the Uganda Netball Normalization Committee, Uganda Boxing Federation, Uganda Woodball Federation, and Uganda Badminton Association, among others, will also see their budgets reduced by 17.21%.
Furthermore, federations in Category 5, such as the Uganda Darts Federation, Uganda Zurkhaneh Sports Association, Uganda Skating Federation, Uganda Body Building and Fitness Association, Uganda Dance Sport Federation, and many others, will retain their initial allocations of UGC 10,714,286, despite the overall budget reduction.
This budget adjustment has sparked concerns among sports administrators about the potential impact on the development and support of various sports disciplines in Uganda.
The NCS has assured that any additional funding granted within the fiscal year will be communicated promptly.
