Uganda Olympic Committee might be banned

By Douglas Mazune

Ugandan athletes preparing for the London Olympic Games slated for July could be burning their calories in vain as Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) leadership dispute in the courts of law beckons a ban.

UOC president Roger Ddungu (top), who was suspended by his executive last month, on Monday applied for a temporary injunction restraining the renegade officials from carrying out any activity or meetings without his authority. The injunction had not been heard by press time yesterday.

“He had wanted his application of an injunction to be heard without a response from us. But we have since written to the registrar and instructed our lawyers to be in court fulltime to block his move,” UOC vice president (administration) William Blick fumed in a telephone interview.

Settling sporting matters in courts virtually invites the wrath of the International Olympic Committee. Worse still, failure to resolve their differences in Saturday’s extra-ordinary assembly, as instructed by IOC, puts Uganda’s membership in a tricky situation.

National Council of Sports (NCS) has also jumped into the fray in a desperate bid to restore order.

“If it is true court action has been commenced against UOC, Uganda is certain to attract a ban from IOC as disputes within the Olympic family are supposed to be resolved within IOC statutes which specially prohibits court action,” NCS general secretary Jasper Aligaweesa pleaded in a letter addressed to the High Court Registrar.