MPs blame Alupo for confusion in football

By Umaru Kashaka

MPs on the education and sports committee have accused Minister Jessica Alupo of causing confusion in Ugandan football by taking sides with sports associations.

While meeting the state minister for Primary Education, Kamanda Bataringaya, over the 2013/2014 budget for the ministry, MPs noted that the new regulations being drafted by the ministry together with the Justice Ministry intending to disband FUFA, will work against the development of sports in the country.

“The minister( Alupo) wants to disband FUFA and keeps taking sides with associations, causing a lot of confusion, now who will make clarifications in such a situation?” the MPs wondered.

The ministry refuted claims by the committee that the minister had been taking sides with any sports association nor indicated that she wants to disband FUFA.

“As such there is no confusion caused by the Hon. Minister. She is just rendering technical advice and guidance based on the legal opinion of the Solicitor General,” Bataringaya told the committee chaired by the Mityana Woman MP, Sylvia Namabidde.

The Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi recently cooled a storm that had been brewing between FUFA and its parent ministry over sections of the new regulations which the former sees as targeting its disbandment. 

With FUFA and the ministry drawing daggers, Mbabazi, who expressed surprise about the disbandment, intervened by directing the sports ministry to do exhaustive consultations before the new regulations are passed.

A source that attended the meeting in the Prime Minister’s office, told New Vision Sport that Mbabazi stressed that amongst stakeholders whose input should be sought, is FIFA and its affiliated local association.