UOC old guards plot return

By Douglas Mazune 

UGANDA Olympic Committee (UOC) could regain its traditional look at the helm if its ‘grey men’ pull off a comeback move this Saturday.

Long serving former UOC secretary Gabriel Oloka and Treasurer Salim Musoke who lost their positions in the 2009 assembly are making every effort to bounce back in an extra-ordinary assembly in Gulu.

The assembly will replace the treasurer, Geno Omala, who was dismissed by the assembly and vice presidents (Technical) William Tumwine and (Administration) Abbey Mubiru who resigned in the heat of the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games controversy.

Musoke wants to reclaim his post while Oloka has cast his net wide this time – leaving his options open to all three vacant posts.

What chance do the old guards have?

Having shaken UOC in the previous two assemblies, hence the vacant positions, any leader in a voluntary sport organization would be wary of the new and youthful professionals. The youthful delegates are bent on turning around UOC where authority was never questioned in the past and for that reason rule out Oloka and Musoke at your own peril.

The old guards worked closely with UOC president Roger Ddungu while he was vice president to Maj. Gen Francis Nyangweso (RIP).

Youth front immaculate candidates

Uganda Rugby Union (URU) chairman and Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) head of marketing William Blick and Uganda Table Tennis Association boss Denis Galabuzi are vying for vice presidents administration and technical respectively. Uganda Volleyball Federation president Sadiq Nasiwu who is a chartered accountant will take on Musoke.

“We would like to improve the image of UOC to be able to market it better. I would like to bring in my marketing and management expertise. Sadiq is a great candidate for treasurer while Galabuzi is good technically having been a sportsman,” Blick stated.

Blick said that they want to make structures, systems and the strategic plan to function.

“We want to create cohesion among federations affiliated to UOC and good corporate governance that has worked and succeeded in our associations,” Blick stated.

The ballot

It is this very group of youthful delegates that overwhelmingly voted for Ddungu to ensure UOC changes leadership for the first time in 30 decades but the dynamics of ‘sports politics’ do not guarantee them victory.

The youth present credible candidates but the old men thoroughly understand ‘UOC politics’ which they could take full advantage of. The poll could go either way.