Uganda Olympic Committee Executive members have rejected a three man tribunal led by a retired judge Professor George Kanyeihamba supposed to investigate indiscipline by some executive members.
UOC boss, Roger Ddungu appointed Peruth Nshemereirwe, a lawyer, and Col. Stephen Kwerijira to work with Prof. Kanyeihamba.
However, the inauguration ceremony for the tribunal
was massed with discontent from some executive members that Mr Ddungu has no powers to institute such tribunal.
As soon as Prof. Kanyeihamba started to speak, UOC Vice President Technical, Dennis Galabuzi, shot up and raising a point of order.
“You cannot be called by the president when we have not given him that authority,” Galabuzi said. “We don’t need your legal brain here,” he added.
Galabuzi quoting UOC constitution Article 26(2) states that all disputes shall be submitted to the ad-hoc commission and shall appoint a tribunal after common consent. “The arbitration commission which is supposed to handle all disputes didn’t sit,” Galabuzi said. “We are not aware and we are wondering under what powers the president calls this tribunal”.
BACKGROUND
Ddungu accuses UOC general secretary Peninah Kabenge for forging his signature to get nominated for an international award, his 1st vice president, William Blick for calling an executive meeting without his permission. Article 18(1) (C) says the president shall together with the secretary general decide on all emergency issues in consultation with executive committee.
“He can’t just impose someone on us. All powers lie with the executive committee. He (Ddungu) can’t act in isolation,” Galabuzi said. Much as several Executive rallied behind Galabuzi the professor didn’t seem threatened and vowed to resume with his duties. “I will look at the laws we have been appointed by whoever and this is a matter that will take us 10 to 15 days to resolve,” he said.
Kanyeihamba was left in dismay with the disagreement among UOC Executive members in front of the Judge and the press exposed the sports body as one that is in divisions and sanity has to be brought back.
“Considering the very good but strong voices that have expressed divisions amongst your selves even if you don’t like this particular tribunal to do the work you will need one,” Kanyeihamba said.
