The National Council of Sports has granted a five month grace period to struggling sports federations as it pushes to fully implement Uganda’s new sports legal framework.
In a statement issued on 23 January 2026, the NCS said persistent governance gaps and weak institutional capacity across the sector have slowed compliance with the National Sports Act, Cap. 151 and the 2025 Regulations. The Council said the transition process, which began in March 2025, has been far more challenging than anticipated.
Out of the 51 federations initially recognised by the NCS, 45 submitted applications by the June 2025 deadline while six failed to apply altogether, prompting the Council to begin legal processes to determine their status. Eight applications were formally contested but have since been reviewed, with the NCS noting that any dissatisfied party retains the right to appeal to the Minister of State for Education and Sports.
Following desk reviews and physical due diligence conducted across 115 districts, the NCS said it identified significant administrative and governance challenges. These included limited institutional capacity, internal leadership disputes, and delayed or incomplete documentation. The Council also noted that the Scrabble Association of Uganda, VX Uganda, and the Uganda Handball Association did not respond to requests for clarification, further complicating their registration process.
After reviewing the status of 37 federations in December 2025, the NCS Board resolved to offer a final remedial compliance window. The five month period took effect on 7 January 2026 and is intended to allow federations to address outstanding gaps and align with the law.
“Failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will result in automatic rejection of registration applications and revocation of Certificates of Recognition, in line with the law,” the NCS warned.
While the Council said it remains committed to supporting federations through the transition, it made clear that the grace period represents the final opportunity for non compliant bodies. Federations that fail to meet the requirements risk losing official recognition and being removed from Uganda’s organised sports framework.
