Corruption: MPs ask local sports federations to refund monies
KAMPALA, October 23, 2023 – Parliament has adopted a report of the Public Accounts Committee [Central Government] in which it recommended that the sports federations, the Uganda Netball Federation [UNF] and Uganda Boxing Federation [UBF refund all the funds received but unaccounted for, within six months.
The committee investigations into the two federations unearthed a repetitive trend of forged accountabilities affirming the discoveries within 2021 /2022 Auditor General’s Report.
The committee reported that the troubled President of UNF, Sarah Babirye Kityo presented accountabilities of Shs 139 million spent on a tournament in Namibia in November 2021 but later disowned the documents, after the committee’s interactions with Bernard Patrick Ogwel, the Secretary General for National Council of Sports [NCS] over the same.
“Whereas the President [Sarah Babirye Kityo] admitted that she had paid for accommodation of 27 players and officials in Namibia for which she had submitted full accountability, she later denied having submitted any accountability documents, when the secretary general produced original documents submitted by her,” said Agago North County MP John Amos Okot while presenting the report.
He said the committee further discovered a letter from Namibia Netball Pent Series Tournament, showing that Namibia was to cover all costs on accommodation for the Ugandan team for which the Uganda Netball Federation accounted for.
Okot presented PAC findings during the plenary sitting presided over by Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, on Thursday.
The committee therefore called on Uganda Police through Interpol to investigate the authenticity of the accountability documents from Namibia, and prosecute the responsible officers for forgery, embezzlement and abuse of office.
In a similar development, the committee discovered forged documents by the Boxing Federation amounting to Shs 8.9mln, for which the committee recommended a refund.
“The Auditor General noted that suspicious accountabilities worth Shs 5.4mln were submitted by Uganda Boxing Federation for catering services from Ready Market Agencies Ltd. A follow up by the committee with the telephone numbers on the receipts presented revealed that the service provider wasn’t aware of any transaction between them and Uganda Boxing Federation. The service provider further confirmed that they do not offer catering services,” said Okot.
UBF is also accused of authoring forged accountability documents for Shs 3.5mln meant for the hire of tents, chairs and tables.
“This was found to be false after the service provider denied receipts from the federation. The proprietors of Ready Market Agencies could not explain the receipts presented as theirs and upon probing, the former federation accountant, Ms. Namuleme Agnes admitted to forging the accountability,” Akot said.
The committee called on NCS to strengthen the capacity of federations in accountability cognizant that a number of them lacked the capacity to have their books audited.
PAC also cautioned NCS against operating informally with federations without binding frameworks, saying disbursing public funds to unrecognized institutions will continuously pose challenges with accountability of the sports funds.
MPs observed that Parliament and government at large have significantly demonstrated support towards the sports sector and called on NCS to strengthen its supervisory role over federations.
“In the sports bill we gave NCS enough power to govern federations, let it come up with guidelines on accountability upon which federations shall be subjected,” noted Elijah Mushemeza, Sheema County South MP.
Iki-Iki County MP, Robert Kasolo asked that the committee report drops the recommendation on the Netball Federation which he said is being investigated by the Inspector General of Government [IGG].
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports and Education, Janet Kataaha Museveni recently ordered Babirye out of office to pave way for investigations.
The minister conveyed the directive in her October 4 letter addressed to the chairperson of the NCS, Ambrose Tashobya, instructing him to ensure that Babirye vacates the office immediately.
The letter directed that no further funding be extended to UNF until the issues of leadership and governance are resolved. Additionally, the letter instructs the NCS chairman to withdraw the certificate of recognition from UNF if they fail to meet the requirements of NCS. The letter also confirmed Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso as the acting vice president of the federation.
It stated, “In the interim, Brig. General Flavia Byekwaso should continue to act in the position of acting president of the Uganda Netball Federation, following my earlier directive dated July 24, until further guidance is provided by my office upon receipt of the report from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Uganda Police Force.”
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