By Douglas Mazune and Shafique Ssenoga 

KAMPALA businessman Arthur Ssegawa was left fighting for his sprouting ‘political life’ after Uganda Lawn Tennis Association (ULTA) slammed the door in his face.

Ssegawa, who was aspiring to become ULTA chairman, had his worst fears confirmed as his Lugogo Centre Court Club was shut out of the ULTA assembly scheduled for this Saturday at Kampala Club.

“As far as I am concerned there is an attempt to sideline our club. We have been denied access to the annual general meeting. The matter is being handled by organs above us,” Ssegawa told New Vision Sport yesterday. 

“We applied for affiliation to ULTA long time ago. I will have concrete information tomorrow.” 

The  Lugogo  Centre Court proprietor argued that he only accepted a request to challenge current president Cedric Babu. The assembly will be held in Kampala on Saturday.

“Why would I have contested if the current leadership was performing well? We took over a facility whose core business is tennis and we sincerely wanted to work with ULTA leadership and other stakeholders. It’s them who don’t want to work with us,” Ssegawa fumed. 

A committee member, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak for ULTA, warned that it would be difficult to admit a new club.

“An existing club can even renew membership at the assembly. Lugogo Centre Court Club may be admitted during the assembly so they participate in subsequent activities,” the member explained yesterday.

ULTA secretary Stephen Musisi confirmed Ssegawa’s fate yesterday. He said Lugogo Centre Court Club does not have membership with his body.

“The club is not a member of ULTA, so will not be represented in the assembly,” Musisi remarked.