The Uganda Roll Ball Federation has failed to secure a spot on the National Council of Sports’ (NCS) latest list of recognized sports bodies, after missing a critical registration deadline mandated under the 2023 National Sports Act.
The NCS had directed all national sports federations and associations to re-register by June 20, 2025, to maintain official recognition and continue receiving government support.
The Roll Ball Federation failed to submit the required documentation in time, raising fresh concerns over the federation’s capacity to operate under the new legal framework.
Speaking to us in a one-on-one interview, federation president Bamuteeze Thomas admitted the delay was due to both logistical and financial challenges.
“Looking at the time frame we were given and the amount of paperwork required, we simply couldn’t meet the deadline,” Thomas said.
He explained that meeting the new compliance standards—particularly the requirement that all recognized bodies must operate in at least half of Uganda’s districts—is nearly impossible without substantial funding.
While the federation has members across the country, organizing consistent activities and involving district representatives in national planning remains financially out of reach.
“Yes, we have members in many districts,” he said. “But reaching out to them, organizing activities, and even inviting them to Kampala for planning meetings costs money—money we simply don’t have.”
The federation’s annual budget stands at UGX 107 million, a figure Thomas says is too low to run an effective national body.
“We are supposed to run an entire federation, pay for offices, hire an accountant, pay staff, and still promote talent with that budget. It’s unrealistic,” he said.
With the federation now at risk of losing both recognition and funding, its future hangs in the balance.
It remains unclear whether the NCS will offer a grace period or consider extensions for underfunded sports bodies like Roll Ball.
