NUSFU facing shs600m shortfall
Feb 04, 2014
UGANDA has to raise sh600m to successfully host the 19th World University Cross-country next month. Hundreds of participants from all continents are expected in Uganda
By James Bakama
Total budget: Sh600m
Key areas
Technical Sh190m
Team funding Sh63m
Secretariat Sh36m
UGANDA has to raise sh600m to successfully host the 19th World University Cross-country next month.
Hundreds of participants from all continents are expected in Uganda for the March 22 event at Entebbe Golf course.
National University Sports Federation of Uganda (NUSFU) head Peninah Kabenge said the association needs to secure sh600 to smoothly host the biennial event.
Kabenge however said that part of the budget has already been met in kind. Government through National Council of Sports has given a helping hand just like Uganda Athletics Federation.
“We thank whoever has supported us but also call upon individuals and organisations willing to assist to please come up and help,” appealed Kabenge adding that it is a great opportunity to host such a big event.
It will be only the second time that an African country will be staging the event. Algeria was the first in 2006.
Save for Canada in 2010, all the other editions have been in Europe.
NCS has for starters cleared the sh15m for the venue.
It also paid the 500 euros (sh1.67m) bidding fees besides catering for a working visit to Uganda for Federation of International University Sports (FISU) officials.
UAF’s assistance will come in form of technical personnel and provision of timing gadgets.
The gadgets and their accessories valued at sh56m will be used a week earlier in the Africa Cross Country Championships in Kampala.
Live TV coverage worth sh71m will be one of the expenses taking up a big chunk of the money.
Teams will pay for their bills at Botanical Beach Hotel though the hosts have to make an advance financial commitment.
The World University Championships have been organised since 1968 under the auspices of FISU.
The 2012 edition featured 76 male and 61 female athletes from 23 countries.
A total of 64 countries have competed but only three (France, Great Britain and Spain) have been present at all editions of the championships.