In just over a month, Uganda Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association (UOC/CGA) President Dr Donald Rukare will be elected as the President of Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board.
Dr Rukare, who has been serving as CGF’s interim president following the resignation of Chris Jenkins six months, is the sole candidate nominated for the position which will be filled at the next General Assembly in November 2025.
How does that impact Uganda Rugby Union?
When Dr Rukare assumes office permanently, this will create a conflict of interest since he will hold two positions — of President CGF and President of a member association, Uganda’s UOC/CGA — within the same organisation.
According to the CGF Constitution’s article 18 on the Executive Board Interests and Management of Conflict of Interest, a member of the executive board must declare the nature and extent of any duty or any direct or indirect interest which they have which conflicts or may conflict with the interests of the federation or their duties to the federation.
It is important to note that it is not mandatory for persons holding dual positions to let go of either of them. However, to avoid any conflict of interest and to preserve independence of the two positions, this is usually the preferred course of action.
Most recent examples of international sports leaders who have stepped aside include; Kirsty Coventry who in March 2025 resigned from her role as Minister of Sport of Zimbabwe after being elected President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Thomas Bach who became IOC President in September 2013 and resigned from presidency of his country Germany’s National Olympic Committee.
This means there is a high likelihood of Dr Rukare stepping aside from his position as UOC/CGA President to focus on his duties as CGF President.
UOC/CGA’s constitution guides, in article 13 on Cessation of Membership on the Executive and article 16 on the Duties of Officers on the Executive, that the First Vice President will carry out the functions of President in his/her absence or under his/her delegation.
Which means that the First Vice President will then take over the presidency on an interim basis until the General Assembly chooses a new president.
UOC/CGA’s current first vice president is Godwin Arinaitwe Kayangwe who also happens to be Uganda Rugby Union’s president.
Is there cause for concern at Uganda Rugby Union?
Kayangwe’s election to the UOC/CGA Executive Board was received with excitement within the rugby community. So, by extension, his upward trajectory to the top level would radiate similar enthusiasm.
Since this would be on interim basis, it is not mandatory for Kayangwe to leave his URU position but if UOC/CGA reaches its election cycle before URU does in 2027 and Kayangwe intends to be fully chosen as President, he would have to relinquish his position at URU.
This is because there would be a conflict of interest at UOC/CGA since Kayangwe’s Uganda Rugby Union is a UOC/CGA member.
There is precedent from the recent past which suggests a similar trend of events. In February 2020, when Rukare was appointed chairperson of the National Council of Sports of Uganda, the position of President Uganda Swimming Federation (now Uganda Aquatics) fell vacant.
Moses Mwase, now Second Vice President at UOC/CGA, took over on an interim basis until March the following year when an elective congress sat.
Consequently, a power vacuum is likely to open up at the Uganda Rugby Union.
Cause for concern at Uganda Rugby Union is not just that. But also that the constitution (currently under review to meet the new Sports Act’s requirements) does not provide clear guidelines on the hierarchy of positions on its executive committee.
The power vacuum could then erupt into a power scramble before Uganda Rugby Union’s members go to the polls in 2027.
Uganda Rugby Union’s communications desk preferred “No comment” when approached by NBS Sport for a comment on this impending power vacuum and scramble.
