Dear fellow countrymen,
It is an honour and privilege for me to be spearheading the process of creating a modern-day sports law in Uganda.
Sport over the years has transformed from being a mere recreational and social activity to a socio-economic transformation game changer.
In addition to the inherent health and social values of sport, modern sport has become a;
- Major employer of youths (educated and uneducated)
- Tax revenue base
- Huge advertising platform for countries and brands
- Forex earner
- Mobilization tool for communities
- Tourist activity
- Patriotic and unifier activity for countries
Currently the International Sports economy is over 600bn USD rated ahead of the aviation industry and Uganda is not partaking yet we have demonstrated that we are abundantly endowed with raw untapped sporting talent.
The Challenges
The Uganda Sports Subsector has previously been regulated by a law that was enacted in 1964 thus “The National Council of Sports Act, Cap. 48”. This law has since become obsolete and cannot regulate Modern-day Sport.
Many commonwealth countries that had a similar sports law have since enacted new laws.
The limitations caused by the lack of the proper legal regime has not helped to harness the potential of Uganda Sports Resource into a productive industry.
The Justification:
The 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (Amended) requires the state to promote recreation and sports for the citizens of Uganda as stated in the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (XVII).
Furthermore, Uganda is a member of the United Nations and the African Union where resolutions have been passed declaring;
- Sport as a means to promote health, education, development and peace
- The independence of Sport and the Olympic Charter
- Sport as an enabler for socio-economic transformation of societies
The African Union recognizes Sport as an element of culture and a major contributor in human development and strengthening national cohesion and rapprochement of people.
In order to;
- Fulfill the constitutional obligation of the government to the citizens
- Implement the international organizations’ resolutions,
- Unlock the sleeping potential of Ugandan Sports to the world
- Provide socio-economic opportunities to the youths
The state has three (3) major roles to play thus;
- Funding the identification, development, preparation, presentation and rewarding of sports teams and athletes representing Uganda in international sports competitions.
- Provision of the prerequisite sporting infrastructure
- Legislation of modern laws and policies to support sports activities and persons
In order to provide the resources for activities and of infrastructure and for funding, it is imperative to have the prerequisite regulatory framework
It is the constitutional obligation of the Parliament of Uganda to make laws that create an environment for achieving these objectives.
Objectives of the Bill
The National Sports Bill is also intended to address the challenges that are holding back the potential of Ugandan Sport in the world domain and harness the opportunities available
The objectives of this National Sports Bill include;
- To recognise, register and incorporate of the National Sports Organisations and Community Sports Clubs
- To solidify the governance, management, development, promotion and protection of amateur, recreational and professional sports
- To codify the obligations of the State under international sports governing statutes
- To among other vices, prevent match fixing, corruption, illegal manipulation and illegal betting in sports. The sports organisations have no resources, expertise and tools to investigate and bring to book such sophisticated offenders
- To encourage and promote drug-free sports;
- To protect the commercial rights emanating from sports events and competitions. The beneficiaries (player and sports bodies) of these rights are not protected as individuals benefit in the trade
- To provide a national sport dispute resolution and arbitration mechanism allowable by international sports governing statutes
- To provide, maintain and protect sports infrastructure for national and international sports competitions
- To install free, fair and transparent system of rewarding National Associations, Teams and individual persons for international sports excellence
- To provide for related matters.
Why now?
It is a unanimous call by the public to create a modern-day sports law and at the beginning of the 10th Parliament, the Physical Activity and Sports (PAS) Bill was one of the listed intended laws to be enacted and 5 years later the law has not been enacted
There has been the explanation given of the lack of the Sports Policy onto which to base to draft the bill but this was overtaken by events when on the 25th September 2013, Cabinet resolved as indicated in minute 333 (CT 2013) that the Physical and Sports Activity Bill be presented to parliament for consideration with stipulated principles.
The Private Members’ Bill is intended to be presented within the same principles as resolved by cabinet.
Way Forward:
The National Sports Bill is intended to be presented to Parliament for consideration as an action to:
- Repeal “The 1964 National Council of Sports Act, Cap. 48”
- Replace it with “The 2022 National Sports Act” once the bill is assented to into law.
This is going to be a long process but the first step has been taken when the Parliament of Uganda granted me leave of the house to introduce a private member’s bill entitled “the national sports bill”. Next shall be the first, second and third reading of the Bill.
Along the way, there shall be obtaining the certificate of financial implications, engagement with the committee of Parliament on Education & Sports and there will be bench-marking and wide consultations with the various stakeholders and the general public in the formulation of this law.
It is only until HE the President assents to the bill that the proposed National Sports Law will come into force.
My assurance to the sports fraternity and general public is that it is a huge task but one I am passionate to undertake.
While undertaking this task, I will evoke my experience as a multidiscipline athlete, vastly experienced international sports administrator and a FIFA Trained Football management and administration instructor.
In my opinion, it is the right moment and the opportunity is now when I also serve as a Member of Parliament entitled to raise a Private Member’ Bill.
This is a generation call that we must all support.
Hon. Magogo Moses Hassim
President of the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA)
Member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)Executive Committee
Member of Parliament-Budiope East
