By Amos Ssemuwemba
In a heated special general assembly held at the MTN Arena in Lugogo on Saturday, members of the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) voted to rebrand the organization under a new name: “Netball Uganda.” This decision will take effect once the federation is officially re-registered with the National Council of Sports (NCS).
The assembly, which aimed to revive netball activities after nearly a year of dormancy due to the NCS’s withdrawal of the federation’s certificate of recognition, was marked by tension and strict media exclusion. Joan Smith, head of World Netball-Africa Development, attended the event, underscoring its importance for the future of the sport in Uganda.
The rebranding is seen as a crucial step in distancing the organization from its troubled past, which has been tainted by allegations of financial mismanagement and internal disputes. “The previous name carried the weight of these challenges,” explained Moses Mwase, chairperson of the netball normalization committee. “This rebrand represents a fresh start and a new chapter for netball in Uganda.”
Alongside the name change, delegates also adopted a new constitution with stricter eligibility criteria for leadership roles. Key among the changes is the requirement that presidential candidates must possess a higher diploma from a recognized institution and hold a certificate in sports administration. Additionally, they must have been active in the Netball Super League for at least five years in roles such as player, official, umpire, or administrator.
These new guidelines, introduced during the meeting, were unanimously accepted by the delegates. “These rules will help us professionalize the governance of our sport,” Mwase noted. However, not all stakeholders were in agreement.
Some members voiced strong opposition to the new requirements, arguing that they could unfairly limit potential candidates. “The sports management certificate requirement poses a challenge for many who have been actively involved in the sport but lack formal qualifications,” said Ronald Nakabaale, a representative from Makindye Weyonje Club.
Brigadier Flavia Byekwaso, the former vice president of the UNF, raised concerns that the new rules were designed to block her presidential candidacy. “The clause about the certificate in sports administration seems to have been crafted with a clear intention – to push me out of the race,” she claimed.
Despite the resistance, the assembly moved forward with the changes. Elections for the new leadership of Netball Uganda are set for October 26, 2024, although the venue remains undecided.
The meeting also granted provisional membership to all former federation members, as well as Netball Super League clubs, ensuring they remain part of the sport’s future.
While many view the rebranding as a positive development, the controversy surrounding the new leadership requirements suggests that the road ahead may not be entirely smooth. Several stakeholders are reportedly preparing legal challenges to the provisions, while others plan to petition parliament to review the changes.
