Ugandan Sports Federations Face Bleak Future as NCS Locks Non-Compliant Organisations Out of State Funding

Sports federations and associations in Uganda must fully comply with the new National Sports Act to receive government funding starting from the 2026/27 financial year, the National Council of Sports (NCS) has announced.

In a significant policy shift, the NCS warned that any organization failing to meet the new legal standards will have its official recognition revoked.

NCS General Secretary Dr Patrick Bernard Ogwel confirmed on Monday that only 11 national sports bodies have successfully registered under the new framework. These compliant organizations are now eligible for government grants and participation in official NCS programs.

The reforms are driven by the National Sports Act, which was enacted in August 2023. A key section of the law, which took effect in March 2024, mandates that all national sports organizations must register under its provisions.

The 11 fully compliant federations that have received one-year renewable registration certificates are:

Netball Uganda, Pool Association of Uganda, Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Uganda Dance Sport Federation, Badminton Uganda, Uganda Athletics, Uganda Chess Federation, Uganda Table Tennis Association, Uganda Tennis Association, Uganda Boxing Federation and the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA).

Another seven organizations, including the federations for motorsports, woodball, and rugby, were deemed "substantially compliant" and will be certified after further verification. However, 14 others, such as the Uganda Volleyball Federation and Uganda Cycling Association, have been given a final one-month grace period to resolve major compliance issues.

The NCS has taken a firm stance, stating that organizations failing to meet this final deadline will have their Certificates of Recognition withdrawn under the National Sports Act and the forthcoming National Sports Regulations, 2025.

Four organizations—the federations for wrestling, taekwondo, scrabble, and fencing—failed to submit any registration documents by the June 7 deadline. The NCS has already begun the process of revoking their official status.

In a notable development, the NCS revealed that investigations uncovered falsified audited financial statements submitted by the Uganda Dragon Boat Federation and the Uganda Canoe Kayak Federation on two separate occasions. These bodies will be given a chance to respond, but they face potential rejection of their applications, loss of recognition, and possible civil or criminal action if their explanations are unsatisfactory.

Dr Ogwel also announced an end to the practice of ring-fencing government funds for specific federations. With a budget of Shs43 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, future funding will be allocated based on legal compliance rather than historical entitlement.

The council also addressed 20 public objections against eight sports bodies concerning issues like governance disputes, leadership legitimacy, and financial accountability. Following hearings, the Uganda Boxing Federation and Uganda Table Tennis Association were cleared for registration, while others like Cricket Uganda are still resolving outstanding matters.

The NCS emphasized that this registration drive aims to enhance governance, transparency, and integrity within Uganda's sports sector. Athletes from non-compliant federations may still receive support through the Uganda Olympic or Paralympic Committees, but their governing bodies will remain ineligible for funding and official recognition until they meet the legal require