Commonwealth games funds must be accounted for
Mar 31, 2010
UGANDA’S preparations for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games have been thrown in jeopardy following reports that the sh200m meant to prepare a team to the prestigious quadrennial event were squandered.
UGANDA’S preparations for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games have been thrown in jeopardy following reports that the sh200m meant to prepare a team to the prestigious quadrennial event were squandered.
An audit commissioned by the new executive of the Uganda Olympic Committee covering a four-year period further discovered that expenditures by the old administration amounting to over a billion shillings could not be accounted for. UOC is in charge of major events like the Olympics, Commonwealth and All Africa Games.
It is absurd that such colossal sums of money could not be accounted for. Sports activities in Uganda rely mainly on donations and prudent accountability is the only way to keep the sponsors’ confidence. The sh200m itself was a donation from the Commonwealth Secretariat. The misappropriation of this money will certainly translate into a poor show by Uganda in the October event. We should therefore, not be surprised if for the first time in over four decades, Uganda fails to win a medal at the Club Games.
Sports is a multi-billion dollar industry that attracts a lot of sponsorship. However, for some reason, there has not been strict accountability of how these donations and funds generated by sports facilities are used. All the anti-corruption agencies should, therefore, pick interest in sports expenditure because the UOC audit could just be a tip of the iceberg. These were public funds and whoever put them to personal use should be brought to book.
In the Commonwealth Games case, the sports fraternity should borrow a leaf from the accountability crusade currently raging after the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda. It is high time some sports administrators were arrested.
The new UOC executive led by Rogers Ddungu should be commended for exposing this rot. They have set a precedent of accountability which they should maintain if Uganda is to regain its lost sports glory.
An audit commissioned by the new executive of the Uganda Olympic Committee covering a four-year period further discovered that expenditures by the old administration amounting to over a billion shillings could not be accounted for. UOC is in charge of major events like the Olympics, Commonwealth and All Africa Games.
It is absurd that such colossal sums of money could not be accounted for. Sports activities in Uganda rely mainly on donations and prudent accountability is the only way to keep the sponsors’ confidence. The sh200m itself was a donation from the Commonwealth Secretariat. The misappropriation of this money will certainly translate into a poor show by Uganda in the October event. We should therefore, not be surprised if for the first time in over four decades, Uganda fails to win a medal at the Club Games.
Sports is a multi-billion dollar industry that attracts a lot of sponsorship. However, for some reason, there has not been strict accountability of how these donations and funds generated by sports facilities are used. All the anti-corruption agencies should, therefore, pick interest in sports expenditure because the UOC audit could just be a tip of the iceberg. These were public funds and whoever put them to personal use should be brought to book.
In the Commonwealth Games case, the sports fraternity should borrow a leaf from the accountability crusade currently raging after the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Uganda. It is high time some sports administrators were arrested.
The new UOC executive led by Rogers Ddungu should be commended for exposing this rot. They have set a precedent of accountability which they should maintain if Uganda is to regain its lost sports glory.