How sports federations will share extra sh22.5b

Parliament has approved additional funding of sh22.5b to support sports federations in the country. 

This is after its budget committee observed that the National Council of Sports (NCS) lacked funds to adequately support the federations.

This is contained in the committee report on the National Budget Framework Paper for the financial year 2024/25 to 2028/29, which was approved by the House with amendments on January 31, 2024. 

According to the committee, which is chaired by Kachumbala County MP Patrick Isiagi Opolot, the Uganda Athletics Federation will take the lion’s share of the funds (sh7b). 

Uganda Rugby Union will get sh2b, the basketball federation sh1.8b, Paralympics sh1.8b, cricket sh1.8b, netball sh679m, boxing sh679m, and other 42 national sports federations and national team participation in the international tournaments (World Cup, World Championships, and AFCON sh3.1b).

The committee’s recommendation that the Ministry of Finance commit additional funds was accepted by the entire House. 

Rewarding talent 

Opolot, who presented the report for approval, also said the committee observed that the NCS always support and rewards talent for national athletes who excel in international major games for the country in line with the NCS Act, 2023.

“The committee noted that the council requires additional sh2.0b to support and reward talent for national Athletes who excelled in international major games for the country,” he said.

The additional funding of sh36m was also approved to enable the NCS to relocate or hire its office space during its re-development of the Lugogo Sports Complex.