Odyek faces fire for usurping power

By James Bakama MEMBERS of parliament have accused NCS acting general secretary John Odyek of usurping powers of the dissolved National Council of Sports governing council. Parliamentary committee on social services chairman Dr.Timothy Mutesasira on Tuesday said Odyek was solely taking decisions to the detriment of sports. "I have seen documents you sign as council yet it was dissolved," said Mutesasira in a committee, where Odyek was asked to explain recent scandals in Ugandan sports. The quizzing followed the crisis-ridden CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, where foreign teams were thrown out of Kampala hotels due to Federation of Uganda Football Associations failure to pay bills. FUFA boss Denis Obua was saved the grilling, and will get his turn to answer in January when the committee next seats. Sports state minister Omony Ogaba dissolved the council last year after its term elapsed. Then NCS general secretary Abbey Lutaya was shortly afterwards sent on forced leave, and is yet to be allowed to regain office. "Some of the administrative problems we are having would not occur if decisions were collectively taken by a council," noted Mutesasira. The council, appointed by the sports minister, serves a four-year term. State minister Namirembe Bitamazire had earlier dismissed claims that government is not interested in sports. She listed several events that Uganda participated in this season and those where the country will feature next year. Ends.