Controversial weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko who went missing in Japan ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is in dilemma over his career because of a miscommunication between himself and the federation officials.

He went to Jinja late last month for national trials where the team for the World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in December was selected and he was denied participation.

The lifter who visited the New Vision offices has said he has been training at his Kisugu Unified Gym and was ready to showcase the talent and skills he gained in Japan at the high-performance center.

“I travelled with my club to Jinja on October 23, but I was denied a chance to compete by the members of the technical team of Uganda Weightlifting Federation (UWF). I tried to communicate with president Salim Musoke who did not attend the event but failed to get him. I am looking for whoever is supposed to handle my clearance because I want to continue with my career and compete at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July next year,” Ssekitoleko said.

He said he made a public apology to the nation when he was set free and is motivated after being listed number five in the continent rankings in the 71 kg category, a position that he can improve on to qualify for Birmingham.

“NCS has assured me they have nothing against me. I have tried several times to meet president Musoke but still in vain. I wanted to catch up with him at the Jinja event but he did not attend,” he added.

But Musoke said he has no ill motives against the athlete because he scouted him and has given him all the opportunities to upgrade his career including having him participate at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia.

“It's not my mandate to clear him. He signed the Commonwealth Games Agreement (CGA) forms with UOC before departure. So let them clear him officially so that he can come back into the sport. I was willing to go with him to NCS and UOC to clear the matter but he has never shown up at the federation office,” noted Salim.

At Jinja, the technical committee selected five athletes for the Birmingham qualifier in Tashkent minus Ssekitoleko.

The chairman of the technical committee, Rashid Lubega has said they denied his participation because of the pending letter from the Minister of State for Sports, Hamson Obua that was instructing the federation to take action that was not specified against the athlete.

“We only need clearance from either NCS, UOC, or the minister. He still has a chance to participate in another national trial before the team travels to Tashkent and if he performs well, he will be back because we know his potential,” noted Lubega.