UBL call off top

By William Muwonge LOCAL tennis took yet another knock yesterday, when UTA admitted this year’s Uganda Open would not take place. Uganda Tennis Association (UTA) secretary Gideon Karyoko revealed that the tournament sponsors Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL), had called it off. UBL communications manager Charles Muhoozi, said the tournament can now only be held around April next year. “We are involved in a number of other activities, so we put off the tournament,” Muhoozi said. UBL have been partners with UTA for the last four years. The Uganda Open is the country’s premier tennis event, and would have been hosted by Kampala Club December 1-8. Apart from the recent Jinja chairman’s cup, it would have been the first and only national local tennis event this season. Local tennis took a knock early this month when the ITF asked for accountability of over sh39m sent to Uganda for development. The National Council of Sports also ordered the executive to go to polls by December 15, or face a ban. UTA’s executive was according to their constitution expected to have gone to polls ten months ago. UTA are yet to indicate their intentions to hold an AGM, which leaves a ban the only option NCS will recommend to the state minister in charge of sport, Henry Oryem. ends