Hamza Kahwa, of Friends Rowing Club is the new Uganda Rowing Association President. The development follows an elective assembly that was held over the weekend at the main headquarters of the National Council of Sport in Lugogo.
“With this committed elected team in place, let us forget about the troublesome past, we need to stand by the rowers and all the clubs, team work will a key”, Kahwa said in a brief acceptance speech shortly after the polls.
Defenders Rowing club was left out of the entire electoral process because 2 delegates, Isma Iga and George Ssonko claimed to be the rightful individuals to represent the club at the Assembly yet only one voting candidate as per Article 9, clause 5.
This meant that 8 out of the expected 9 Rowing clubs in the country took part in the polls presided over by a national council of Sports officials Hajji Badru Sabila and Patrick Okanya under the supervision of Uganda Olympic Committee president, Arthur Blick.
Kahwa was voted unopposed following the withdrawal of Charles Batambuze. The latter withdrew from the race with just minutes to casting the ballots to the surprise of the entire assembly.
Express Rowing club’s Rachael Kobusingye beat UPDF’s Dickson Katende to the position of Vice President in charge of technical affairs with a 5-3 vote triumph while Faruku Baruku of Wellness Rowing Club beat Ntozi Arthur 5-3 to the post of Vice President Administration.
Solomon Muwonge (Nalubaale Rowing Club) is the new secretary general of the association having beaten Abubaker Mayanja with a 5-2 margin in a race where one vote was declared invalid.
Winston Nnusu was voted unopposed as the new treasurer, while Rodrick Muhumuza is the publicity secretary after defeating Irene Kisuule 6-2 in the polls.
Irene Kisuule was voted unopposed as the women’s representative while Samuel Onyango and Dickson Katende will be the Association’s Ex-Internationals officials and Chairperson of commissions respectively.
The elections come at time when the rowing fraternity urgently needed management to steer the sport to greater heights.
FULL ROWING CABINET:
Hamza Kahwa (President)
Rachael Kobusingye (Vice-Techincal)
Faruku Baruku (Vice-Administration)
Solomon Muwonge (General Secretary)
Winston Nnusu (Organising Secretary)
Henry Kaddu (Treasurer)
Rodrick Muhumuza (Publicity Secretary)
Irene Kisuule (Women Representative)
Samuel Onyango (Ex-internationals representative)
Dickson Katende (Chairperson of Commissions)