NCS backs FMU in feud with motorcycling

The nearly year-long fight by a faction of the motorcycling riders to break away from their umbrella body, Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU), is as good as done, for now.

This week, a meeting called by the National Council of Sports (NCS) ruled that the Motocross Association of Uganda (MAU) will remain a member of the FMU.

“FMU is the federation mandated and recognised by FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) and FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) to promote motor rallying and motorcycling in Uganda,” a ruling from the February 9 meeting stated.

The statements adds that: “Secession by motorcycling association, is impossible since they don’t represent motorcycling clubs but rather motorcycling parents. It’s clubs recognized by FMU that can talk about secession not individuals.”

Start of 2020

NCS council members Cecilia Anyakoit (chairperson technical committee) and Mark Ssali, and the assistant general secretary David Katende Ssemakula (technical) attended the meeting held at the government agency’s offices in Lugogo on Tuesday.

The feud started at the start of 2020 just before FMU held elections last February that saw Dipu Ruparelia beat Dusman Okee to the presidency.

At the time, some motorcycling clubs objected to George Semakula, Kisitu Mayanja and Joseph Mwangala being nominated for the post of deputy vice president in charge of motorcycling. They preferred that Barak Orland retained the post.

However, Orland had resigned from the same post in December, 2019, two months before the election. He opted not to contest in the election.

Mayanja was elected the new motorcycling representative amid protest from some involved with motorcycling.

That’s when the talk of secession started but some members of the motorcycling fraternity, under MAU, rejected the idea.

Respect structures

The breakaway faction would go on to organise events without the approval of FMU before the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing lockdown struck. A showdown is looming as the faction is currently advertising an event for February 21. 

This was raised in the meeting and NCS gave a firm response. “MAU must respect the existing structures of FMU. If they have an issues, grievances, they must address them through the established structures of FMU,” the NCS communique reads. “MAU isn’t allowed to organize any motorcycling competition, in and outside Uganda, as they aren’t recognized anywhere in Uganda,” it adds. Daily Monitor also learnt that MAU were told to stop using the name ‘Uganda’ as they don’t represent the country’s interests as set out in the 1964 NCS Act.

It is not clear whether MAU agreed to follow the ruling. Okee, while still FMU president, has previously advised that MAU raise their issues to the assembly that will then hold a poll to allow them leave peacefully.