Egou dragged to court over boxing polls

Sep 07, 2009

ORGANISERS of the assembly that recently elected Godfrey Nyakana to the UABF presidency have been taken to court by the federation’s former executive.

By James Bakama

ORGANISERS of the assembly that recently elected Godfrey Nyakana to the UABF presidency have been taken to court by the federation’s former executive.

Elections of the national boxing governing body were supervised by a four-man normalisation committee led by National Council of Sports member Charles Egou.

Through Tugume-Byensi and Company advocates in civil suit 124 at the Nakawa High Court, the outgoing executive insists that Egou illegally organised the polls.

The committee that also had education and sports ministry officials Sam Odong, Yusuf Mukoka and NCS member Haruna Mawanda, is supposed to respond to the plaint within 15 days.

The committee is accused of ignoring UABF’s constitution, permitting unqualified clubs in the electoral process and recognising a parallel body to the federation amongst other issues.

Nyakana headed the body that was opposed to the old UABF leadership headed by Roger Ddungu. The plaintiffs led by Dr. Ntege Ssengendo, want an order nullifying last month’s elections.

They are also pushing for a permanent injunction restraining the defendants from infringing on the UABF constitution.

They also insist that they were constitutionally appointed and are therefore still the rightful executives of the federation.

Committee member Odong, at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Nyakana executive, said they would make wide legal consultations and accordingly respond.

David Kyambadde, a secretary in the Ssengendo executive, said the petition is not about any personalities.

“It is all about the security of the pillars on which the sport hinges. It’s time an independent authority determined how the sport must be governed.”

But Nyakana argued yesterday that the court battles would further dent boxing’s already battered image.

“Instead of further fragmenting ourselves, it’s time we had a concerted effort, even if it means compromising certain things,” the former professional boxer explained in an interview said.

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