UOC’s extra ordinary assembly on Saturday May 21 banned its former vice presidents William Tumwiine and Abbey Mubiru from all sports related activities. A probe report commissioned by the assembly blamed the two leaders for their role in Uganda’s scandal-filled participation in the New Delhi Commonwealth Games. 

Tumwiine, who until last week headed local badminton, was Team Uganda’s Chief de Mission in India while Uganda  Handball Federation boss Mubiru was the team manager.

The two officials attended the assembly, and their attempts to defend themselves were deemed unsatisfactory. The issue was put to vote and they lost it.

This brings to three, the number of top UOC executive members that have been banned in a space of three months due to the mismanagement of funds and other activities related to the India trip. 

During the first assembly in February, UOC treasurer Omala Geno was banned for presenting an incomplete financial report. Mubiru and Tumwiine that time resigned their executive posts —in a move that was viewed as an escape from a ban. 

The first probe report was however thrown out for being inexhaustive. Yesterday’s meeting at Makerere University focused on a report presented by the second probe headed by city lawyer Kavuma Kabenge. 

After deliberations, where most of the delegates noted that there was a problem with the kits and the general team management, shooting delegate Gabriel Oloka moved a motion of banning the officials. 

Oloka, a long serving member of the former UOC executive, argued that the accused had put not only sports, but also Uganda into disrepute. 

Though UOC boss Rogers Ddungu tried to shelve the motion saying that the executive would handle the situation, the assembly insisted that it was the highest decision making organ. The matter was put to vote, with those in favour of a ban taking the day by 13 to 5 votes. 

“It was not done for the spirit of sports. It is Ddungu fighting to see that he has unchallenged control,” complained Tumwine. He denied claims of officials staying with girlfriends in the village.