Rukare elected Anoca Zone V president

Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) president Donald Rukare was on Sunday elected to head the Zone V members of the Africa National Olympic Committees of Africa (Anoca) in Ethiopia.

Anoca has six zones but back home, this regional endorsement also works for Rukare, who is seeking re-election as UOC president for a second term this month. Although, we understand that he could be unopposed for UOC presidency, the individuals he will back for executive committee positions could also rely heavily on this new development to seek votes.

Zone V includes 11 Olympic Committees from the eastern Africa region and Rukare beat incumbent Dr. Gayo Ashebir, a Member of Parliament in Ethiopia and acting president of the Pan African Parliament, 8-2 on the day.

“I must say there was really no plan to get into this position two months ago but we analyzed the activities of the zone over the last four years and decided to change something,” Rukare told Daily Monitor.

“I truly appreciate the confidence our members have in the team and we are committed to reactivating, re-energizing, and revitalizing the zone, which is the largest in Anoca, through more activities and even capacity building for coaches and athletes.

“The zones are the hubs of where Anoca activities happen, but if you look at ours, the members have key advantages yet nothing has been happening for four years. Egypt is a known sporting country. Ethiopia and Kenya are leading in athletics. South Sudan is doing well in basketball while Eritrea and Rwanda are doing well in cycling. Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are also hosting Chan and Afcon soon.

In terms of medal performances, maybe only South Africa can compete with our zone but for the last four years, little has been happening,” Rukare, whose election also means he will become a member of the Anoca executive committee, said.

Rukare on IOC committee

Meanwhile on February 11, Rukare was also appointed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s safe sports steering committee headed by Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan.

“What we will mainly do is provide safe sports guidelines to the Olympic family, maybe through initiatives like regional hubs, ensuring countries have policies on these issues.

“It is not a full time job, we will have three or four meetings a year. But most importantly, by sitting there, you can organize through Anoca what Africa's priorities are and make a case for some of our norms.

“Consider the playful banter that can be excused as jokes here or greeting with a hug. In another country, that can be considered sexual harassment. Definitely, we have limits here too but if you joke back to a statement made by a female athlete, things might not be bad.

"In another country, you could go to jail for making her uncomfortable. So, as we prepare for Los Angeles and maybe the Islamic Solidarity Games, we are saying the global standards can be contextualized but if they are shaped by only one group of people, then we are going to have only Euro-centric or America-centric views.

"I believe we will bring different views and perspectives to the table and then customize them. When you are from a different culture and hug someone for the first time, maybe they should not get offended and run to the authorities right away. But there can be a good exchange, where she explains her culture and takes exception while you also show that you have nothing against her and did not mean to disrespect her but that you come from a different moral system."

Anoca Zone V Exec. Board

President: Donald Rukare (Uganda)

Vice president: Alice Umulinga (Rwanda)

Secretary general: Francis Mutuku (Kenya)

Treasurer: Tong Chor Malek Deran (South Sudan)

Board members: Salvator Bigirimana (Burundi), Michael Teklemichael (Eritrea), Haji Mohamed Abdow (Somalia)

Countries: Burundi, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda