Moses Magogo
Deputy Speaker Anita Among was forced to defer the tabling of the National Sports Bill for First Reading after Government protested against the rushed processing of the bill, calling for the need to conduct consultations because the proposed legislation has several connotations of financial implications which require co-sponsorship with Government.
During the plenary sitting, Moses Magogo (Budiope East) who also doubles as President of Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) took to the floor to table the National Sports Bill for first reading, but his ceremonious act was cut short by Government Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa who called for further consultations on the financial implications.
“So we want to work with the member to co-sponsor the bill but we need time to do this. I have arranged a meeting between the Minister of Sports and Minister of Finance so they can work out the framework of ensuring we expedite the process of this bill,” said Tayebwa.
However, a number of MPs were skeptical towards Tayebwa’s plea saying that it is a tactic deployed by Government to frustrate Private Members’ Bills, a practice that has become common in Government.
Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East) said, “The item is bills first reading, we haven’t even received the bill and the Minister is speaking in anticipation, why doesn’t he allow the bill to be read for the first time and government can subsequently engage them over and either take it up or enrich it. But as of now, for the Minister to frustrate the MP from bring the bill is against our rules.”
He was backed by Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West) who argued that there was no reason as to why the Bill should not be read for the first time since the member carried out extensive consultations.
“The MP has done his work and everyone is waiting, in fact, we can’t allow to frustrate the MP who has invested all his time and energy and at the last minute, one Chief Whip comes up and says they are discussing. The Minister can make his own Sports Bill but let the MP table his bill for first reading and we work on it as Parliament, “ remarked Mafabi.
Bugiri Municipality’s Asuman Basalirwa cited Rule 121(2) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament that mandates Government in assisting MPs in drafting the bill, “So Government is at liberty to corporate with the private member during the process of the bill, what government can’t do is to try and arrest a bill at this stage, they don’t have that right.”
Michael Mawanda (Igara East) recounted his ordeal, accusing government of frustrating his efforts to present a Bill on reforms in Central Bank, despite Parliament ordering Government to do so but failed.
Deputy Speaker, however informed Parliament that the Ministry of Finance had refused to issue Magogo a certificate of financial implication, prompting her to issue a two weeks ultimatum to Ministry of Education and Sports to harmonise with the mover of the Bill.
It should be recalled that in December 2021, while seeking foe lave of Parliament to table a private member’s bill, Magogo said the National Sports Bill was intended to repeal the 1964 National Council of Sports Act to enable Uganda harness the available opportunities in local and international sports.
He further argued that the National Sports Bill would help consolidate and modernise the law relating to the incorporation and registration of national sports organisations and community sports clubs as well as provide for the management, promotion, development and regulation of professional, amateur and recreational sports in Uganda.
“The 1964 National Council of Sports Act is obsolete in comparison with modern trends and demands of international sports. There is need to enact legislation to streamline the incorporation, registration, management and recognition of sports associations and sports clubs as well as national sports associations in order to achieve the objectives of their creation,” said Magogo.
Among the proposals Magogo made in the Bill was for the creation of a Sports Fund to provide a predictable and sustainable means of funding national sports in the country, as well as creation of a tribunal to settle sports disputes.
The FUFA President also said the Bill will also prohibit vices in sports administration like doping, manipulation of sports results, unauthorized use of sports results in betting as well as abuse of commercial rights of national sports associations and federations.
