UOC finally clears Sydney 2000 kit

By James Bakama SPORTS equipment that has been held at Entebbe airport due to none payment of taxes for more than a year has finally been redeemed. Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) President Major General Francis Nyangweso said on Tuesday that the required sh4m tax had been paid. "The equipement, an International Olympic Solidarity offer sent in November 1999, was intended for the Sydney 2000 Olympic training, but the taxes were too high," said Nyangweso. Local athletes had to improvise as they trained for the Sydney Olympics. Almost all Uganda athletes fell out at the very first stage of competition and none recieved a medal. News of the payment followed pleas by journalists at an IOC course to have sports taxes reduced or waived. The sports scribes opined that whereas other countries were injecting money into the development of sport, Uganda government was more interested in getting revenue from the same. Sports administrators argued that if government was to maintain VAT on sporting equipment and activities, the money should be strictly directed towards sports development. Meanwhile this year's National Games will run for five days from February 13 in Tororo, Nyangweso has said. Ends.