OPINION: Uganda Olympic Committee drama 'sickening'By SANDE BASHAIJA for Daily Monitor | Monday, April 9   2012 at  16:05

The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) office at Lugogo has been turned into a theatre. There is a comedy series on show.

In the first episode, we watched UOC president Roger Ddungu using all trickery to get rid of his former vice-presidents William Tumwine (technical) and Abbey Mubiru (administration) and treasurer Omalla Geno.

With the backing of a biased general assembly, Ddungu threw the trio out of the country’s most powerful sports body last year.

The second episode pitted Ddungu against his secretary general Peninah Kabenge. This time, though, the UOC boss never got the full backing of the assembly to kick Kabenge out. He accused Kabenge of forging his signature to nominate herself for an international award.

Exonerated

Kabenge insists she scanned Ddungu’s signature with the president’s approval. Ddungu instituted a probe committee, whose findings were later trashed because they exonerated Kabenge. Shortly after, he talked of instituting another committee comprising some of the country’s top judges.

This move has, however, been dismissed as a joke. Another episode is now upon us even before the second ends. And this time, it’s Ddungu in the receiving corner.

Led by newly-elected vice-president William Blick, all UOC top executive members, excluding assistant secretary general Nicholas P’Minga, want Ddungu booted.

They don’t approve of his methods of work. He is a dictator and runs UOC like a personal business, Blick’s group told the press last week at National Council of Sports (NCS).

To hold the press briefing at NCS, Blick and company had been denied access to UOC premises! But they are bent on seeing the top man out. Some genuine sports lovers will applaud this move aimed at riding UOC of the man hugely to blame for the death of Uganda’s golden sport – boxing.

The timing, though, isn’t right for all this drama. With not more than three months to the Olympic Games, what sports lovers would love to read in such columns, are preparations for Team Uganda.

Which athletes are representing Uganda in London come July? Where are they training from and who is monitoring their sessions? Blick’s camp argues that Ddungu has all the answers since he is Uganda’s chef de mission to the Olympics.

That’s probably the reason we should sit back and enjoy the drama at UOC. But again, we are not enjoying the drama. It is sickening. Spare us.