Jjagwe Sounds Alarm Over Federations’ Licensing, Funding Allocations

Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) Executive Committee Member Robert Jjagwe has called on the National Council of Sports (NCS) Chairman  Ambassador Ambrose Tashobya, and NCS Board to urgently address what he describes as critical challenges affecting national sports federations, particularly delays in operational licensing and what he considers unfair funding allocations.

Jjagwe says the two issues require immediate intervention if Uganda is to maintain momentum in sports development and enable national federations to effectively implement their programmes.

In an appeal directed to Ambassador Tashobya and the entire NCS Board, Jjagwe expressed concern that several federations remain uncertain about their operational status, with some still waiting to know whether they have been licensed to operate.

According to Jjagwe, the uncertainty has come at a particularly difficult time for federations, which are expected to implement activities during the financial year while meeting accountability requirements attached to government funding.

Federations ‘kept on ice’

Jjagwe described the licensing situation as unfair and detrimental to the development of sports, arguing that federations cannot effectively carry out their programmes when their operational status remains unclear.

He noted that Uganda had already entered the third and final month of the first quarter of the financial year, yet some federations had reportedly not received funding because of unresolved licensing matters.

Jjagwe further claimed that funding for two quarters of the current financial year had already been released, raising concerns about the ability of affected federations to utilise the resources within the required timelines and subsequently meet accountability deadlines.

He said the continued uncertainty had effectively placed some federations “on ice”, leaving them frozen and unable to comfortably undertake their planned activities.

“The federations need to start doing activities,” Jjagwe argued, calling on the NCS leadership to resolve the licensing question as quickly as possible.

He warned that prolonged delays could have wider implications for Ugandan sports, particularly for federations that depend heavily on government support to organise competitions, train athletes, participate in international events and run their administrative structures.

Concerns over funding disparities

Beyond licensing, Jjagwe also raised concerns about the way government funding has reportedly been allocated among national sports federations.

He argued that there are significant disparities between the amounts allocated to different federations, with some receiving billions of shillings while others remain on allocations running into only hundreds of millions.

Jjagwe questioned the basis upon which the allocations were determined, saying the disparities do not appear to be founded on what he described as a clear, rational or publicly understood criterion.

According to him, the current funding model could create an uneven playing field within Ugandan sports because federations receiving substantially larger allocations will naturally have greater capacity to develop infrastructure, organise competitions, support athletes and strengthen their administrative systems.

He warned that federations receiving comparatively smaller allocations could struggle to make meaningful progress, regardless of the potential within their respective sporting disciplines.

New Sports Act presents additional pressure

Jjagwe also linked the funding concerns to requirements under Uganda’s new Sports Act, particularly the requirement for federations to establish and maintain secretariats.

He argued that for some federations, the money allocated may barely be sufficient to operate their secretariats, leaving little or no funding for other critical activities.

These activities may include athlete development, coaching, competitions, equipment, grassroots programmes, international participation, technical development and other programmes necessary for the growth of a sporting discipline.

Jjagwe therefore urged the NCS Board to reconsider the allocations and establish a more equitable funding framework that takes into account the operational realities and development needs of different federations.

Call for transparent criteria

At the centre of Jjagwe’s appeal is a call for fairness and transparency in the distribution of public resources allocated to sports.

He argued that all national sports federations should have a realistic opportunity to develop and contribute to Uganda's sporting ambitions.

While acknowledging that different sports may have different financial requirements, Jjagwe maintained that funding decisions should be guided by clear and rational criteria rather than allocations that leave some federations substantially better resourced than others.

He urged the NCS Board to review the current funding allocations and ensure that they provide federations with sufficient resources to meet both administrative obligations and programme-related needs.

Wider implications for Ugandan sport

The concerns raised by Jjagwe come at a time when sports federations are expected to play a central role in identifying, nurturing and preparing Ugandan athletes for national, continental and international competitions.

Federations require functioning administrative structures, regular competitions, technical programmes and adequate resources to develop athletes from grassroots level to elite competition.

Delays in licensing or funding, therefore, can affect more than federation offices. They can potentially disrupt competition calendars, athlete preparation, coaching programmes and Uganda's participation in international sporting events.

For smaller federations in particular, limited funding could make it difficult to maintain basic operations while simultaneously investing in athlete development.

Jjagwe's intervention consequently places renewed focus on the relationship between the sports governing authorities and national federations, as well as the mechanisms used to determine the distribution of government resources.

Urgent action sought

Jjagwe has asked the NCS Board to act quickly on both matters, stressing that continued delays could undermine the very objective of government investment in sports.

On licensing, he wants federations that have fulfilled the necessary requirements to receive clarity on their operational status so that they can begin implementing activities without further uncertainty.

On funding, he wants the Board to reconsider the current allocations and adopt an approach that gives all national sports federations a fair and realistic opportunity to grow.

His appeal ultimately centres on the need for an enabling environment in which federations can plan, access resources, organise activities and develop athletes without prolonged administrative or financial uncertainty.

As Uganda continues to invest in sports and seeks stronger performances on the international stage, Jjagwe's concerns highlight the importance of timely licensing, predictable funding and transparent resource allocation in building a sustainable sports sector.