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During the plenary session on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Hon. John Twesigye, the chairperson of the Committee on Education and Sports, presented the committee's report, touching on all three proposals made by the President.
The Parliament of Uganda held a hot debate as it sat for a second committee reading of the National Sports bill 2023 to make amendments to the initial bill.
The amendments were passed following President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s proposal and recommendations from the Committee on Education and Sports.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Hon. John Twesigye, the chairperson of the Committee on Education and Sports, presented the committee's report, touching on all three proposals made by the President.
The National Sports Bill, initially tabled for First Reading on November 10, 2022, was passed by the House on March 2, 2023, but the Bill was returned by the President with key amendments.
Hon. Moses Magogo, the Member of Parliament for Budiope East County and also FUFA President, played a pivotal role as the mover of the Private Members' Bill.
The hottest topic of debate was the amendment of section 32(2) concerning the composition of the board of the National Council of Sports.
The amendments specify that the National Council of Sports shall have a governing board consisting of a chairperson and six members, representing various stakeholders in the sports ecosystem.
The members of the NCS board shall include representatives from sports federations, athletes, private sector, People with Disability, a knowledgeable individual about sports administration and two representatives from the traditional regions of Uganda.
The Minister for Sports will appoint the NCS board members and ensure that the board represents interests from sports federations, government, private sectors, PWDs and gender.
Hon. Twesigye acknowledged the President's proposal to introduce archery, a sport that is played in the Olympics and recognized by the National Council of Sports.
"The committee recommends that archery sports discipline be added as proposed by the President since it is recognized by the National Council of Sports," Twesigye stated.
Conversely, kickboxing was removed from the list of recognized sports due to its lack of recognition by the council.
The amendments reflect the commitment to ensuring that recognized sports align with the regulatory framework and guidelines set by the NCS.
While the committee proposed the deletion of clause 75, which vests the land and public sports facilities in the NCS, the House decided to retain the clause.
The decision was made to protect the land and property of the sports facilities, as they are currently under the jurisdiction of the National Council of Sports.
The concerns regarding potential legal battles and ownership disputes influenced the final decision.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, emphasized the importance of safeguarding the sporting land and facilities in Uganda.
With unanimous approval from the House, the committee report and the amendments to the National Sports Bill have been adopted, solidifying the changes that will shape the future of sports in Uganda.
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