NCS muddles in boxing matters

The current standoff in local boxing places National Council of Sports (NCS) in an awkward position.

Uganda Boxing Federation's elective assembly on Saturday was called off after one of the parties secured a court injunction.

NCS had until that point been in charge of the electoral process. They started off by suspending UBF's executive for what they described as undisciplined conduct by some executive members.

One of these-publicity secretary Fred Kavuma was even referred to police for criminal investigation.

After cracking the whip, then NCS swung into action organising elections. It is at this stage that NCS started exposing itself on a path of blunder.

For starters, NCS seems not to have been at grips with UBF's constitution.

UBF's constitution stipulates that its parent body AIBA must be notified if such an exercise is to be held.

A list of clubs, delegates and aspiring candidates must also be forwarded a month prior to the assembly. NCS did not fulfill any of these.

But even if NCS had not flouted this regulation, they had already blundered. For starters, was suspension really called for?

The UBF constitution under article 19 on disciplinary proceedings provides for punitive measures for its errant members.

NCS would have simply compelled UBF to effect this article. Interestingly, the same NCS, seemingly in neglect of section 18 of its own regulations for sports bodies, had earlier released funds to UBF.

Section 18 of the 2014 regulations clearly stipulates that NCS' affiliates shall present audited accounts.

If you thought that was strange what about the fact that most of the money was released to Kavuma.

Nowhere in the publicity secretary's roles is taking up the treasurer's duties mentioned.

UBF, whose treasurer Eddy Wasajja resigned in 2014, had meanwhile gone for three years without audited accounts.

When it came to the elections NCS again conflicted with UBF's constitution. Nowhere in the federation's guiding document are trustees mentioned.

But NCS instead went on to entrust drawing of the electoral roadmap to the trustees.

The trustees, who according to NCS are supposed to take charge in such times of crisis, are also nowhere in NCS's regulations.

NCS could argue that this regulation was introduced later.

But even then, its implementation in UBF was pregnant with conflict of interest. Members of the suspended executive Kenneth Gimugu, Simon Barigo, Paul Ayasi and Kavuma also formed the board of trustees.

As if that was not bad enough, these same officials, including Kavuma, who NCS wanted investigated by police, were also contesting in the NCS organized elections!

Isn't it time NCS disengaged from this process and first organised itself?