The General Secretary National Council of Sports (NCS) Dr. Benard Ogwel has defended the ongoing registration and compliance exercise for national sports federations, warning that only organisations that meet the requirements of the National Sports Act and its regulations will be eligible for government funding.

Addressing the media, at chopper chimney where a two-day engagement with media and stakeholders was slated to be held on Friday and Saturday Dr. Ogwel dismissed calls for government to finance federation registration, arguing that federations have received substantial public funding over the years but failed to prioritise governance, planning and nationwide development.

“We have been funding federations. Over the last five financial years, some have received billions of shillings,” Ogwel said. “The real question is not why government should provide more money, but how the money already given has been used.”

The Council stressed that the law intentionally requires federations to demonstrate a genuine national footprint, noting that many bodies operating under the banner of “national federations” exist only in a handful of regions.

A nationwide monitoring and evaluation exercise across all districts revealed that most districts were familiar with only four or five sports federations, despite government support extending to more than 50 recognised sports disciplines.

“Some of these organisations are national in name only,” Ogwel stated. “In reality, they are village or regional associations. Government was deliberate: if you call yourself a national federation, you must have a national character.”

Under the law, federations seeking national status must demonstrate activity in at least 75 percent of Uganda’s districts, while amateur associations are required to meet a minimum threshold of 50 percent district coverage.

NCS made it clear that failure to comply with registration requirements will result in loss of government funding. A government gazette to be published by June 30 will list federations eligible for funding in the 2026/2027 financial year.

“If you have not complied, you will not qualify as a national sports federation,” the Council warned. “Those without capacity should remain at district or regional level.”

Annual registration, as required by law, was defended as a necessary accountability mechanism to curb abuses that occurred under the repealed National Council of Sports Act.

NCS revealed that eight federations were denied registration following objections raised on legal grounds. These included duplication of existing sports disciplines, misleading

federation names, failure to comply with constitutional requirements, and submission of false information.

“Some federations claimed presence in districts where they are completely unknown—no schools, no communities, no activities for over 10 years,” Ogwel noted.

Affected federations have been advised to appeal to the Minister of Education and Sports, with disputes to be resolved through the legally mandated arbitration tribunal.

Dr. Benard Ogwel pointed to major government investments in sports infrastructure as proof of its commitment to sector development. These include:

· Construction of regional stadiums with 20,000-seat capacity across all regions within five years

· Completion of Hoima Stadium, currently undergoing commissioning

· Construction of training facilities in Hoima, Masindi, Kiyambogo, Makerere, Gulu, Lira and other areas

· Establishment of the National Sports Academy of Uganda on 100 acres in Hoima

· Development of multi-sport facilities including swimming pools, athletics tracks, rugby pitches, basketball courts and tennis courts

· Government has allocated more than UGX 1.4 trillion toward sports infrastructure, with facilities designed to serve multiple disciplines and support Uganda’s hosting of AFCON 2027.

While government continues to invest heavily in infrastructure, NCS challenged federations to improve planning, acquire assets and adopt long-term strategies.

“If you receive UGX 2.4 billion annually and cannot save UGX 400 million to buy land and build offices, then the problem is not funding—it is planning,” Ogwel said.

Federations were urged to develop strategic plans aligned with national development priorities, with NCS cautioning that government cannot “push federations like a wheelbarrow” to ensure compliance.