Cabinet okays sports’ sh32b

Nov 09, 2004

CABINET has approved the long awaited sports policy.

By Norman Katende

CABINET has approved the long awaited sports policy.
The green light given last week, means the comprehensive document compiled by the Ministry of Education and Sports and National Council of Sports, will now move to Parliament for debate.
Ugandan sport has over the years suffered because of lack of a national sports policy, leaving its institutions struggling for finance amidst poor management at all levels.
National Council of Sports (NCS) acting general secretary Jasper Aligawesa confirmed yesterday that the policy, which has spent two months in cabinet, had at long last been approved and sent to Parliament.
“That is a step taken. We are now waiting for it to be tabled in parliament. There were no big changes to the draft presented,” Aligawesa said.
The revised policy that has also been approved by the finance ministry, provides for a sh32.3bn five-year funding with sh22.8bn to be secured from the education and sports ministry’s capitation grant to the education sector.
The finance ministry earlier threw out the first draft policy, saying that sh250bn five-year budget was exorbitant.

Sports Policy highlights

  • 32.3bn for five years from government. Policy will also encourage investment and sponsorship of sports and physical education.

  • It will give National Council of Sports a legal framework to enforce government sports policies.

  • Calls for better performance, funding, management, and accountability from all sports institutions.

  • States the benefits, roles and responsibilities of physical education and sports.

  • It spells out the strategic development of sports, establishing physical education and sports departments at all levels.

  • Provides and ensures gender responsive development of physical education and sports including that for the disadvantaged.

  • Sets outs the dos and donts for all sports stakeholders.
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