MPs sitting on the Parliamentary Committee of Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) have summoned Charles Bakkabulindi, State Minister for Sports over the poor state of stadiums across the country.
COSASE Vice Chairperson, Anita Among issued the summons on Monday after meeting officials from National Council of Sports (NCS).
The MPs questioned why NCS officials have abandoned their responsibility of managing the stadiums across the country.
The officials had been summoned to respond to the 2013/2014 audit queries in the Auditor General report.
Led by Usuk County MP, Peter Ogwang) and Kashaari County mp, Nathan Itungo, the MPs gave an example of John Akiibua stadium in Lira, Soroti Sports Ground and Kakyeeka stadium in Mbarara that have been left in a dilapidated state.
The acting Chairman NCS, Zubair Galiwango argued that the NCS was constrained to act due to a decentralization policy that placed the management of the stadiums under local governments.
However, Galiwango’s submission was shot down by Ogwang, who pointed out that this does not mean that the districts would refuse assistance from NCS unless the Council was trying to grab stadium land.
Galiwango also blamed the dilapidated stadiums on the meager capital development fund, but this too was rejected by Ogwang who stated that Government had earlier provided for Akiibua stadium but the funds were misused by the NCS officials.
It was then that Ogwang asked the Committee to have Bakkabulindi summoned because it is his office that should have made a proposal to cabinet to transfer management of all stadiums NCS.
After a consensus from MPs, Among summoned Bakkabulindi to explain outstanding queries surrounding development of sports and stadiums across the country.
