FUFA, athletics remembered in national budget

By Samuel Sanya and James Bakama

The entire sporting fraternity has been allocated sh6.974b in this year’s national budget, but questions remain on whether the meager allocation will be well utilized.

An investigation shows that an even smaller amount sh4.975b was approved to expenditure by the department of physical education and sports in the financial year 2013/14 but only sh1.25b was spent by September 2013, four months into the financial year.

Over 40 sports disciplines have complained of low funding, but a massive sh3.73b will now have to be returned to the treasury if not utilised at the end of the financial year.

According to the national budget framework paper for the financial year 2014/15 a separate, and much larger sh10.94b has been allocated for the construction of the ministry education and sports headquarters in Kyambogo.

The money is meant to cover Value Added Tax (VAT) arrears of the stalled project as well.

The framework shows that the ministry for sh4.94b for a high Altitude Training Centre in Teryet, Kapchorwa but only sh2b was allocated.
 
An additional sh2.428b has been allocated to support to national sports Organizations of which sh700 m will go to the FUFA and the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) in fulfillment of a presidential pledge.

The framework paper shows that government is likely to rely on the private sector to provide and maintain some sports facilities.
Busitema University is looking to roll out new campuses of Pallisa and Kaliro, which will lead to the establishment and maintenance of a Sports Centre that will develop sport in the eastern town of Busitema.

At the same time, Mbarara University plans to continue with the development of the Kihumuro campus which will increase infrastructure in the western municipality of Mbarara.