Opinion: Time for the State Minister for Sports to Intervene in Uganda Netball Elections

By Emmanuel Sekago

The current situation surrounding the Netball Uganda 2024 Elections raises significant concerns about transparency, fairness, and conflict of interest.

The Netball Normalisation Committee, tasked with overseeing the election process, appears to be overstepping its mandate by attempting to both administer and run the elections.

This conflict of interest is alarming and calls for immediate intervention from the State Minister for Sports to ensure the elections are conducted in a transparent and impartial manner.

According to the Netball Uganda 2024 Elections Guidelines, the Normalisation Committee has outlined its functions, which include receiving nominations, organizing and conducting elections, monitoring campaigns, handling complaints, and other related duties.

These responsibilities, especially organizing and conducting elections, suggest a potential conflict of interest, as the committee itself is acting as both the governing body and election manager.

This dual role is inappropriate, particularly in a democratic electoral process where neutrality is key. The State Minister for Sports must step in to separate the administration from the election process to safeguard the integrity of the elections.

An example of this conflict surfaced during an extraordinary assembly held on September 21, 2024, at the Lugogo MTN Arena. The assembly, which passed changes to the Netball Uganda constitution, name, and logo, excluded key stakeholders like district delegates and the media.

Even more troubling is that the proposed names for a returning officer, who should be responsible for managing the election process, were never presented or debated by the provisional members.

This omission leaves room for suspicion, as it suggests that the Normalisation Committee may want to maintain control over the election, rather than handing over to an impartial returning officer, as should be the case.

A glaring issue arises in Section 7.10 of the guidelines, which outlines the nomination requirements. Specifically, candidates are required to pay non-refundable nomination fees ranging from UGX 800,000 to UGX 1,500,000 depending on the position as below;

(a) The President – UGX 1,500,000/=, (b) The 1st Vice President (Administration) – UGX 1,000,000/=, (c) The 2nd Vice President (Technical) – UGX 1,000,000/=, (d) The Honorary Secretary – UGX 1,000,000/=, (e) The Honorary Treasurer – UGX 1,000,000/= and (f) Regional Representative – UGX 800,000/=, However, the guidelines do not include details about the designated bank account where these fees should be deposited.

This lack of transparency is another reason for the State Minister for Sports to intervene, as it raises questions about whether all candidates will be treated equally during the nomination process.

Furthermore, the creation of “Honorary” positions for the Secretary and Treasurer in the Netball Uganda executive is another contentious issue.

National sports federations in Uganda, including the Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) headed by the chairman of the Netball Normalisation Committee, do not have such honorary positions in their structures.

Why, then, are these roles being introduced in netball? This inconsistency suggests an attempt to maintain control over key positions, and it is yet another reason for the State Minister for Sports to step in and clarify the organizational structure.

There are also contradictions within the Netball Uganda 2024 Elections Guidelines themselves. Section 7.12, which deals with the submission of nomination forms, is problematic because the returning officer has not been properly approved by the assembly.

With the Normalisation Committee already involved in running the elections, appointing an impartial returning officer is critical to ensuring a free and fair process.

The State Minister for Sports should take immediate action to appoint a neutral returning officer who will conduct the elections without interference from the current Netball executive, as it is clear that the Normalisation Committee cannot play both roles. The importance of this intervention cannot be overstated.

The Netball Uganda 2024 Elections are crucial for the future of the sport in Uganda, and without transparency and fairness, the legitimacy of the entire process is at risk.

The State Minister for Sports holds the key to restoring confidence in the netball election process. By stepping in to appoint a neutral body to oversee the elections, the minister can ensure that all stakeholders have a fair chance and that netball in Uganda can continue to grow free from political interference.