Achon petitions NCS over UAF polls

By Swalley Kenyi

UGANDA’S arguably most successful sports body Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) is entangled in a disagreement over its elective assembly due on January 25 in Kampala.

A group of disgruntled officials led by retired middle distance national star Julius Achon have petitioned National Council of Sports (NCS) to intervene and halt the elections citing irregularities in its arrangement.

Achon is opposing the incumbent president Dominic Otuchet for the top UAF seat.

NCS general secretary Jasper Aligawesa confirmed receiving the petitions but declined to reveal the details saying it would jeopardise investigations by his office.

“Yes, there are people who have petitioned and I think more petitions are yet to come. I request to be given up to Thursday before I can say something comprehensive,” Aligawesa said.

But Achon said that he wanted NCS to stop the exercise citing irregularities in the way UAF is planning the exercise.

“I will not allow the assembly to sit because they are manipulating things to favour themselves. Up to now some districts still don’t have communication for the assembly and not even election guidelines have been issued yet,” Achon said yesterday.

Otuchet refused to comment on the matter but sources revealed to New Vision that constituents in the Lango sub region, Jinja and Gulu districts are among petitioners who have lodged complaints at NCS.

They argue that UAF had blocked a number of districts from participating in the voting exercise with only 36 cleared. Achon described the move as unconstitutional management of the country’s most successful federation.