FMU in constitutional crisis ahead of General Assembly

KAMPALA.

After a year in office and promising to restore transparency, good governance and ensuring accountability, Dusman Okee, faces his first major crisis as the president of the federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU).

Daily Monitor can exclusively report that the delayed FMU Annual General Assembly (AGA) has thrown the sport in turmoil after the mandatory two years for the 13 standing committees and commissions expired way back in the first weekend of February. If they are in operation now they are illegal and their decisions are not binding as per the federation’s constitution.

The Federation’s annual general assembly, which was slated for the first Saturday of February as per constitution was put off. It is now scheduled to take place on May 6, 2017 at the Lugogo MTN Arena.

The general secretary Joseph Mwangala sent out a notice to all FMU member clubs and associations on March 28, 2017.

The February assembly should have confirmed the new names on the committees and commissions for the next two years.

According to Article 9, section 9:2 of the FMU constitution, a member of the commissions and committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee, for a renewable term of two years, in a non-elective year.

A source told this reporter that the sporting commission, which is tasked with drawing the calendar and national competition rules, did their part and forwarded their work to the executive.

But their recommendations have never been ratified yet things seems to be running normally. “This is a danger to our sport and I challenge the executive to show us the minutes where and when they sat to ratify the two,” said one member who requested to remain anonymous.

SMC petition
It becomes even trickier after Southern Motor Club (SMC) petitioned the senate after FMU withdrew their rights to organise the third round of the NRC.

The senate is made of five members; three immediate past FMU presidents - David Bitalo, George Kagimu and Jack Wavamunno, who are empowered to be there by the constitution - and McDusman Kabega and John Prinsloo as independent parties.

The current FMU President is an ex-official of the committee. The senate was constituted in such a way that to reach a fair hearing, two outsiders must be part.

However, the mandate of Kabega who was the chairman and Prinsloo, expired in February like that of standing committee and commissions.

“We have the quorum and can still sit and chose a chairman of the meeting. We have a petition from SMC, which we have to settle before the event takes place April 28-30,” the source added.

Last year, the senate was called into action after the crew of Godfrey Lubega and Justin Mungoma petitioned results of the Kabalega Rally. The Senate overturned the Jas Mangat win and Lubega/ Mungoma were declared winners.

However, Mwangala dismissed the fears of a constitution crisis. “We could not hold the AGA as per the constitution in February because at that time only five clubs out of 15 had met their requirements,” he explained. “We saw it necessary to put off the assembly.”

But another member of the rally fraternity dismissed Mwangala’s explanation.

He said: “This was a missed opportunity by the federation to put the sports on the right footing. The meeting should have gone with the five clubs with the rest facing disciplinary action.”

On the committee and commissions, Mwangala said: “They are still in operation because they run until the assembly sits.

The standing committes & commissions
*Sporting Commission
*Safety and Medical Commission
*Environment Commission
*Legal and Disciplinary Commission
*National Court of Appeal
*Senate
*Electoral Commission
*Accounts Committees
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*Rallying/Karting Competitions Committee
*Motorcycles Competitions Committee
*Touring, Vintage and Safety Committee
*Technical Working Group
*Control Marshals Working Group