25TH OCTOBER 2023

The National Council of Sports (NCS) regrets to announce that we have today withdrawn the Certificate of Recognition previously issued to the Uganda Netball Federation (UNF), and that the federation will no longer conduct any business related to the sport of netball on behalf of the Government of Uganda.

The decision arises out of the persistent governance and leadership challenges that have engulfed the UNF, and due to the failure by the UNF to follow the laws of Uganda and their own statutes.

We would like the sports fraternity and the general public to know that these governance issues and leadership challenges were brought to the attention of the National Council of Sports (NCS) and the Ministry of Education and Sports two and a half years ago for amicable resolution, but all the official processes followed since that time have failed.

As a result, the NCS Board in their meeting held on Wednesday 25th October 2023 resolved that;
1. The Certificate of Recognition issued to Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) on the 6th day of June 2016 vide Recognition No. NCS/R/15/No.021 be withdrawn with immediately effect, for the following reasons.
a) Failure to abide by the Constitutional provisions of Uganda Netball Federation (2012) for election of the Executive Committee and failure to follow the correct procedure to amend the Constitution of UNF- contrary to clause 2 of the Certificate of Incorporation issued under the Trustees Incorporation Act, Cap 165.
b) Failure to resolve the governance and leadership challenges within the Uganda Netball Federation - contrary to Section 15(1)(f), of the National Sports Act, 2023.
c) Failure to disclose sources of funding to National Council of Sports - contrary to Section 22 of the National Sports Act, 2023 and Regulation 16(2) of the National Council of Sports- Statutory Instrument No. 38 of 2014.
d) Failure to inform National Council of Sports of the several bank accounts that the Uganda Netball Federation resolved to open without following procedures and their use of forged and unauthorised documents to open these accounts.
2. That notwithstanding, UNF may reapply for recognition once the issues that have led to the withdrawal of the Certificate of Recognition have been addressed.

The NCS assures the sport fraternity and the people of Uganda that we remain steadfast and firm in our resolve to develop, promote and control all sports in the country, as we are mandated to do.
And as always, our doors remain open for those who seek clarification, and for those stakeholders who seek to engage on this and others matters concerning sports in the country. For God My country.

NCS CHAIRMAN