The State Minister for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, has called for unity and patience as the Normalisation Committee, appointed to restore order to Ugandan netball, carries out its mandate.
Ogwang’s remarks come amid heightened tensions following the National Council of Sports’ (NCS) decision to revoke the Uganda Netball Federation’s (UNF) license and the establishment of a new governing body, Netball Uganda.
Speaking on the issue, Ogwang stressed the importance of giving the Normalisation Committee time to complete its work before making further decisions.
“We need to allow the Normalisation Committee to do its work. Once things are back to normal, we can start making adjustments. For now, the most important thing is that netball gets back to normal operations,” he said.
The Normalisation Committee was set up to restore stability and compliance in the sport following administrative turmoil. However, the process has been contentious, with World Netball issuing warnings about potential sanctions against Uganda if the situation is not resolved swiftly.
“I’ve seen letters from World Netball threatening to ban Uganda. We need to allow the Normalisation Committee time to deal with this before it is too late,” Ogwang noted.
The Normalisation Committee has been working under the guidance of World Netball and the NCS to draft a new constitution and oversee the formation of Netball Uganda, which is expected to take over from the UNF.
Elections for the new body are slated for October 26. The move has sparked resistance from UNF President Sarah Kityo, who claims the creation of Netball Uganda is illegitimate and a violation of the UNF’s mandate.
In response to conflicting petitions submitted to Parliament by different factions within the netball community, Ogwang urged for a cautious approach.
“I’ve seen two contrasting petitions. Some people petitioned the Speaker to get involved, and then another group petitioned the Speaker to ignore the other petitioners,” he said, highlighting the divisions within the sport.
To avoid further escalating tensions, Ogwang has requested Parliament to hold off on making any decisions until the Normalisation Committee completes its work and new leadership is in place.
“I’ve requested the Speaker to give this issue time until the new Netball leadership is in office. Thereafter, we can now discuss the details on how we can revive the sport in Uganda,” he said.
Despite the ongoing disputes, Ogwang expressed willingness to engage with all parties involved, stating that his office remains open to any stakeholders who want to discuss their concerns.
“My office is open for anyone who has issues they would like to discuss,” he concluded.
The leadership dispute has stalled netball activities in Uganda, with players and fans eagerly awaiting a resolution. As the October 26 elections approach, the focus will be on whether the Normalisation Committee can successfully navigate the challenges and restore stability to the sport.
