Ogwang demands audit of district sports grants before increment

Sports state minister Peter Ogwang has called for a comprehensive audit of Government grants to districts before any further increment is made.

“I am sorry because they have now brought me to the Ministry of Education, now I don’t have the mandate of going down to these Local Governments, but I might interest my colleague from Economic Monitoring (under Prime Minister's Office) to follow up on this money,” he said. 

He made the remarks on Thursday, September 11, 2025, while appearing before Parliament’s education and sports committee, chaired by Bunya East MP James Kubeketerya (NRM). He was flanked by ministry permanent secretary Dr Kedrace Turyagenda.

The development follows a petition hearing by the National Sports Officers Association (NSOA) led by Mustafa Nsubuga, in which the group demanded that each district be allocated shillings 150 million per financial year.

Funds breakdown

According to Turyagenda, the ministry resolved about five years ago to start allocating funds towards sports.

“We started with shillings 30 million, but we have been increasing, at the moment we give 60 million for that activity. Shillings 40 million of which is for sports activities, 10million is for capacity building, and then 10million for other co-curricular activities like music, dance and drama (MDD),” she illustrated.

While the proposal on the table is rational, the ministry’s resource envelope is currently constrained. He noted that although the budget line deserves more funding, it can only be addressed if the finance ministry factors it into the next budget.

However, as stakeholders push for increased funding, Ogwang emphasised the need for accountability for the little that has so far been disbursed.

He elaborated that although district sports funding has gradually increased over time, the burden still falls on politicians who have to foot the bills.

“We all come from these districts, if we are to carry out an audit on these monies in our respective Local Government, to be honest, some of us will not be smiling. I come from Katakwi. Every time there are national sports activities, I am bombarded. I must raise money from my little money when there is this money,” he warned.

“While you request additional money, I am interested in us first knowing what these shillings 60million are doing. I have even the letter where the Minister, First Lady Janet Museveni, wrote to all local governments to follow up on this money,” Ogwang reiterated.

Salary scale

During the hearing on Thursday, Ogwang directed Turyagenda to ascertain the number of sports science teachers serving in government-aided schools. Something he said would help them in the next interaction with the public service ministry.

It should be remembered that in their submission on Wednesday this week, the National Sports Officers Association (NSOA) demanded to be placed on the science salary scale.

In addition, they want their commensurate arrears, based on what they would have been earning, paid from the time they were first employed up to the date of implementation.
Who are sports officers?

According to their president, Nsubuga, these are bachelor's degree holders in sports science or bachelor's in education with a bias in physical education.

“These, by no doubt, are science qualifications. If you want to qualify for the bachelor of science in sports science, bachelor of education with a bias in physical education, the person should have done biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics at Ugandan Advanced Level of education or mathematics and physical education at diploma level especially for primary school teachers,” he explained on Wednesday.

He added that the training of sports officers at universities is purely scientific, covering units such as human anatomy, sports biochemistry, biomechanics, nutrition, and injury prevention and management, among others.

Under the current structure, these professionals serve as heads of sports units at the local government level without assistants or senior positions. Leaving them with no opportunities for career growth, except in cities that have recently been restructured to include senior roles.

Something, he said, demotivates their colleagues who know that they cannot rise to become Senior Inspector of Schools and DEOs despite having the required experience.

“For example, the first female sports officer, Tumuhairwe Teopista of Kabarole district, served for 20 years until she retired. We have our own Osapat from Mayuge who has been a sports officer since 1993 and has not been promoted at any level of Government,” Nsubuga argued. 

Disparities in pay

At present, Nsubuga says sports officers are recruited on a U4 Lower scale and retire with the same pay. And yet, according to a witness who did not want his name to be disclosed, this translates to a monthly salary of Sh600,000 subject to tax. While their science counterparts in the education sector earn shillings four million per month. 

President Museveni's directive

It should be noted that during a teacher’s retreat at State House in 2017, President Yoweri Museveni promised to increase the salaries of science teachers. The directive, whose implementation commenced in 2021, saw Graduate and Grade V teachers’ pay increase to four million and sh3 million, up from 1.1 million and 796,000, respectively. 

However, for sports officers, the case was different, with many officials in public service contesting their scientific status.

This prompted the then Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in 2020 to write to Makerere University seeking clarification on whether the affected officers qualified as scientists by admission, training or award.

Dr Annet Nankwanga, who was then the head of department of sports science at Uganda’s oldest higher learning institution, confirmed their status as scientists. Nankwanga is a PhD holder in physiotherapy.

“The error of trial and guessing in sports ended in the 20th century. With the 21st century, more and more science has found its home in sports. That even the injuries are assessed scientifically to ascertain the magnitude and the time needed for recovery…” she argued.

However, despite this expert opinion, Nsubuga says their fortunes haven’t changed.