Peter Ogwang: Sports Minister Warns Officials of Arrests Over Sh 40 Million Sports Funds

Uganda's Sports Minister Peter Ogwang has fired a warning to district and municipal officials who mismanaged the 40 million shillings meant for local sports development, noting that they will be arrested.

Speaking at the launch of the four-month Shyaka Cup in Entebbe, Peter Ogwang pointed out that there has to be absolute financial accountability while promoting young talent.

He insisted that the officials should provide all the requirements for the young talent to develop, paving the way for the next generation of football talent.

“Talk about community football. We should be able to allow our children, or even those who have not gone to school, to have access to playing football. You all know, most of these big footballers are from underprivileged families,” the minister said.

“They're the ones who come and make it. And there are no facilities now across the country because, as I said, I talked about the land.”

Peter Ogwang added that he has directed the town clerk of Entebbe to follow up on the land that had been set aside for sports development and also across the country.

He pointed out that the funds must be used for what they had been allocated for, adding that he will do a complete crackdown across the country to ensure that is implemented.

“And I also want to send a strong message to the people across the country that they have played enough with this money. I am coming to follow up on this money. And it's going to be physical accountability,” he added.

“It's not just going to be accountability because we want to see the outputs, what this money is doing. The reason we started sports is that we have so many youth who have so many skills.”

Meanwhile, Steven Shyaka, the MP of Entebbe Municipality, added that football brings people of diverse backgrounds together, noting that the match in Entebbe was also aiming to achieve that.

Steven Shyaka further explained that football also breeds forgiveness and helps in the growth of young people, allowing them to explore their skills and, from that, the government can help them grow through the nurturing of their talents.

“So we decided to open up sports so that we can come together as people of Entebbe. It doesn't matter what political background you support, but as long as you're an Entebbe resident and you have a skill, we are inviting you to come and participate with us,” he added.

“We call for unity; we call for all the villages to come and support their village at the football ground. That will bring about unity; it will bring about forgiveness; it will bring about people identifying their various skills, and then we can take them to the next level.”