Misunderstandings are threatening to tear apart the new leadership of Uganda Netball Federation- UNF, barely 7 months after assuming office. In June last year, the UNF General Assembly elected Sarah Babirye Kityo and Richard Muhumuza as the president and vice president technical of the netball federation respectively.
The assembly also elected Amina Mande as the new General Secretary. Kityo’s election ended Suzan Anek’s long term at the helm of the netball governing body. She was accused of running down the sport. Shortly after her election, Babirye vowed to work with her executive to restore the glory of netball in the country.
However, a few months down the road Mande and Muhumuza, both members of the NFA executive have been banned from any activities related to the sport. This was communicated in a January 17th, 2022, letter used by the UNF publicity secretary.
“This communication, therefore, serves to inform the general public that Ms. Mande Aminah who was the General Secretary is replaced by Ms. Apolot Harriet Margret as the Interim General Secretary. Mr. Muhumuza Richard who was the Vice President Technical is replaced by Mrs. Mutyaba Rosette Kaala as the acting Vice President technical. The two were banned from Netball activities on abuse of office and violation of the Constitution of the Uganda Netball Federation,” reads the letter.
The letter also shows that Ms. Nakate Olivia has since replaced Ssengabi Yahaya as the publicity secretary pending approval from the General Assembly. “Mr. Ssengabi Yahaya remains on suspension for gross misconduct,” the letter reads. The UNF President, Babirye Kityo faults the duo for taking netball matters to the courts of law, which contravenes article 28, section 3 of the UNF Constitution.
It is alleged that Mande summoned an executive meeting without the knowledge and approval of the president and her Vice president Administration, Brig. Gen. Flavia Byekwaso in violation of the constitution. As a result, Kityo suspended the duo and advised them to appear before the disciplinary committee.
However, instead of appearing before the committee as advised, Muhumuza and Mande Aminah wrote to UNF through their lawyers Kavuma Kabenge and Co protesting their suspension from netball-related activities. They argued that the President does not have the power to suspend them.
Left without option, Kityo decided to sack the two officials. The new leadership has registered two triumphs at the continental level, a gold in the African pent series that took place in Namibia and a silver in the African Netball Championship that came a few weeks after Pent Series. Kityo said it was the beginning of a new era in netball.
The two victories in the pent series and the African Netball championship helped the cranes to increase their ranking by four to 126 allowing them to move into sixth place relegating Malawi who moved down to 7th with a rating of 125
