Sports got a raw deal in the budget
Jun 29, 2015
It is long since the sports sector had something to cheer about the national budget. These annual income and expenditure estimates have always left this sector dejected.
By James Bakama
It is long since the sports sector had something to cheer about the national budget. These annual income and expenditure estimates have always left this sector dejected.
So, when Finance Minister Matia Kasaija’s budget showed an increase from sh6.8b to 11bn there was celebration.
I was one of those who toasted. An increase by almost double was truly a step in the right direction.
Who knows, with big things like proceeds from the production of oil coming, we could see the figure further increase.
A look at the budget’s figures shows that the respective federations will get sh1.48b. That is an increase from sh480m. That’s quite impressive.
With this kind of money, each of the 53 sports bodies recognised by National Council of Sports would be entitled sh28m.
That might be peanuts to a body like FUFA, but to the bulk of the other federations that receive virtually nothing from Government, this is like a miracle.
But as it turned out, sports actually got a raw deal. That is at least going by what is due to the sports bodies.
A closer look shows that nothing has actually changed. The federations will still share out a mere sh480m save for athletics and netball.
A sh1b pledge by President Yoweri Museveni to athletics and netball was included in the budget.
It caters for Uganda Athletics Federation’s preparations for the 2017 World Cross-country and the She Cranes participation
at the Netball World Cup.
I am no accountant or economist but I wonder whether it was proper to include this pledge in the sports budget.
It paints a deceptive picture for an industry that could be headed for even more lean times.
Talking of a deception, what about the almost two trillion shillings that the Education, Science, Technology and Sports gets. It is hard to convince anyone that sports only gets crumbs off this figure.
Back to what sports will this time be entitled to, the truth is shocking. With sh480, each of the 53 bodies will be entitled to a paltry sh9m a year.
When you factor in the ever weakening shilling and the growing number of international competitions, what comes to mind is a crisis.
That not all this money is at times released leaves NCS in a tricky position.
NCS General Secretary Jasper Aligawesa revealed that out of the sh480m budgeted for the federations last financial year, only sh125m was released.
As other sectors seek and secure supplementary budgets, the sports story is pathetic. Even the little that is budgeted is never fulfilled.
So, isn’t it time sports got an independent ministry for an independent budget? For as long as the sector continues being hidden under what those who draw the budget consider as “more important” areas, it will continue getting a raw deal.
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