By Norman Katende

UNDER pressure to reverse the changes he made in the boxing (UABF) and table tennis associations, Sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has stood his ground against petitions from rival factions.

Bakkabulindi defended the election of Godfrey Nyakana as new boxing president. He said the resignation of Roger Ddungu in March left a vacuum that warranted elections.

The minister was reacting to claims that he allowed elections with knowledge of a sitting executive. The former UABF executive through Tugume-Byensi and Company Advocates on Friday sued the committee at Nakawa High Court for usurping their powers. The committee has 15 days to make their defence.

Bakkabulindi said he okayed the normalization committee of Charles Egou to conduct the elections after Ddungu resigned to concentrate on Uganda Olympic Committee business where he is president. Ddungu resigned with the committee members that he appointed on March 17.

In his letter Ddungu said: â€œThe constitution ... does not allow my executive to stay in service after my resignation. Therefore, I would
like to bring to your notice that all my executives will cease their duties as from April 1, 2009,â€ read the letter in part.

Another letter by Ddunguâ€™s former vice president Ntege Ssengendo of Sept. 3 said otherwise. It said the UABF constitution need be followed adding that the executive had been sidelined but were not ready to leave office unless their term ended.

Ssengendo threatened legal redress if government did not dissolve the federation and caused the drafting of a new constitution.

Bakkabulindi has also ignored a petition by former table tennis head Emmanuel Matsyetsye. He blessed the interim team Matsyetsye was contesting at a meeting in Kampala on Monday attended by National Council of Sports official Nicholas Muramagi, interim leader Andrew Gitta and his committee members.

Matsyetsye had asked the minister to disregard the August 29 assembly that passed a no confidence vote in him and appointed an interim team to revamp the association.

He was accused of tempering with the constitutional term of office to read three instead of two years.

â€œAfter scrutinizing the report of the meeting, I am convinced there was quorum and Matsyetsye took part in the deliberations,â€ said Bakkabulindi.

▶️ ECO ZONE: Lake Kamunzuku in Kasyoha-Kitomi forest

Lake Kamunzuku is located in Rubirizi District.

▶️ ECO ZONE: Lake Kamunzuku in Kasyoha-Kitomi forest

By NewVision Reporter

Journalists @NewVision