By Phillip Corry
THE Uganda Lawn Tennis Association will have to clear their sh40m debt in rent arrears if they are ever run the Lugogo Tennis Centre again.

According to National Council of Sports general secretary Jasper Aligawesa, the association owes the sports body sh40m in rent arrears.

“We had told them to pay sh1m every month, but they found this difficult. We run out of patience after we realised that they were just adamant,” Aligawesa stated.

The local tennis governing body, led by John Nagenda, has been running the facility for the last two years since taking over from Lugogo Tennis Club. Aligawesa said the new management has failed to manage it properly prompting NCS to take over. Nagenda is a senior presidential advisor.

“The facility was being run down; they were not looking after it well. The toilets are blocked and need repair. The hedges around the courts had also overgrown,” Aligawesa added.

According to records the Uganda Rugby Union paid rent for their offices of sh1.6 for an entire year, while the shop, bar and restaurant also paid their rent in advance to ULTA.

A member of the ULTA executive, who preferred anonymity, said that the association was being run in a very “arrogant manner”, also citing intrigue amongst the top members.

“There is no development whatsoever and the sport is not progressing. There are certain people who are in the sport just to make money and have failed to raise the game.

I can say that the chairman has strived to keep the sport running through his contacts that have sponsored the sport,” the insider said.