Obua’s lawyer

Dec 16, 2003

WHILE the probe into the rot in Ugandan football wants stern measures taken against the current soccer leadership, education and sports state minister Henry Okello Oryem has different ideas.

By James Bakama and Fred Kateregga

WHILE the probe into the rot in Ugandan football wants stern measures taken against the current soccer leadership, education and sports state minister Henry Okello Oryem has different ideas.

Among the probe’s recommendations that Oryem dismisses, is the dissolution of the FUFA executive and banning club officials Omar Mandela and Godfrey Kirumira.

In an exclusive interview yesterday, Oryem also said that claims by the IGG that FUFA president Dennis Obua has not accounted for sh104m, are baseless. He said that Obua submitted full accountability to him.

“He has no case. He has given me a satisfactory report,” said the minister explaining that the submission was made to him by virtue of his status as head of sports in Uganda.

National Council of Sports (NCS) is supposed to study the report before advising the minister on what next step should be taken.

Oryem also dismisses claims that Obua’s leadership has not delivered. “I am happy with Obua on many things,” said the minister.

“He has brought the East and Central African soccer presidency to Uganda. Cranes and Kobs are in the group stages of big competitions,” proudly said Oryem.

He also cited assistant referee Ali Tomusange’s appearance as the first Ugandan in the World Cup final as a rare feat that should be attributed to Obua’s leadership.

FUFA’s modern office block at Mengo is another achievement Oryem credits on Obua. “And, mind you, he has done all this in hardship,” noted the minister.

To Oryem, Mandela and Kirumira, who are accused by the probe of fuelling chaos in the controversial 2003 season, are too resourceful for Ugandan football to drop.

“They are key financiers who not only sacrifice immense amounts of their money for their clubs (SC Villa and Express), but also the national team.”

The minister argues that there is also no concrete proof in the report to show that the two officials had a case.

Oryem however agrees with the report that the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) assembly is dominated by incompetent delegates.

The probe reported that FUFA’s assembly as currently constituted is “too big, composed of low calibre delegates, who are easily manipulatable and largely relegated to a mere voting function in disregard of FUFA’s other important functions as the supreme soccer policy body.”

Oryem also supports nullification of the league and Kakungulu Cup, which means there will be no Nile Special Super league new entrants.

Former defense state minister Steven Kavuma chaired the probe committee that consisted Patrick Nyaika, Lt. Col. Albert Kareba and Geoffrey Kihuguru as members.

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