Parliament honours Team Uganda, seeks better laws

Team Uganda athletes and officials pose with Members of Parliament yesterday after a motion was passed to recognise the team. PHOTOS BY ALEX ESAGALA

Kampala- In reference to Bible verses Luke 17:11-19, Hamson Obua – the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ajuri Country – moved a motion for Parliament to congratulate members of Team Uganda for their performance at the April 4-15 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
Those verses tell the story of the 10 lepers healed by Jesus Christ. Only one returned to thank the Son of Man.

“It is in that spirit that I move this motion so we can recognize the efforts of these athletes,” Obua told Parliament as the Commonwealth team watched proceedings in silence from the gallery. The youthful MP, who also attended the Games where Uganda won three gold, one silver and two bronze medals, also laid the list of athletes and officials that attended the Games for future reference.

“The future of sports is exceedingly bright. However, investing in sports cannot continue to be just a choice in this millennium,” Obua added as he thanked government and sports bodies for taking the athletes to Gold Coast and urging them to do an even better job for the sector.

In his motion, Obua prayed that “Parliament also urges government to fast-track the completion of the High Altitude Centre in Teryet that was promised in 2006 and other sports facilities.” “It is easy to thank the athletes but it is in this prayer that we must pass the litmus test on whether we can really promote sports.

“If you look at Mandela National Stadium, it has a master plan but it is incomplete with only two football pitches and a dilapidated hotel.”

“Why doesn’t government complete the rest of the structure that must include indoor facilities for netball, basketball and an aquatic centre among others,” Obua pondered.

Obua also told of the fate of Akii Bua Memorial Stadium that sat on land that belonged to Lira Referral Hospital. “The hospital has reclaimed their land but the local council identified another piece of land. However, the place is still a bush. When will the construction of this stadium be first-tracked because the historu of our sports is incomplete without John Akii Bua who won our first Olympic gold medal (in Munich 1972).”

In his final prayer, Obua urged government to repeal the 1964 Sports Act, which he termed as an obsolete and old fashioned law. “We are running sports with a law of the 20th century in the 21st century. I want to give government an ultimatum of one month. If that bill is not tabled, I will seek leave of Parliament to table a private member’s bill on the same,” Obua warned.

Heartfelt debate
What followed was an impassioned debate, on how the challenges of the sports sector and how they can be improved, from Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among, Mary Karooro Okurut from Bushenyi, Amuru’s Lucy Akello, former athlete Julius Achon – who now represents Otuke, shadow sports minister Allan Ssewanyana and Rubaga North’s Moses Kasibante among others.

Kazo County MP Gordon Bafaki even urged the line ministry to reclaim encroached upon sports fields while Joseph Kasozi wondered why the sports ministry “never shows cause for more money even when it is clear they need it.”

The debate also reflected on matters to do with scouting of talent across the country, empowering district sports officers and urging multinational companies to get involved in funding sports.

“I like the enthusiasm and passion of the youthful MPs in this debate. But I now urge them to translate this vigour into action and lobbying for sports. Actually the movers of the motion could have done well in going back to check on unfulfilled promises,” Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal.