Ugandan born Sierra Leonean Ronald Lwebuga, together with Sierra Leone’s chess team that was slated to take part in the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Norway have been denied visa’s due to the Ebola out break that is ravaging Sierra Leone and West Africa.
Trying to come to terms with missing the Chess Olympiad. A very difficult position to assimilate, to say the least it is very devastating that team Sierra Leone is denied Visas for Tromso amidst no clear explanation,” Lwebuga commented on his facebook wall.
“Without a single drop of empathy from the visa issuing section,we were told off! They can never understand the passion we have for game and how our goals and aspirations have been watered down to the point that I can even barely move a chess piece, not even a pawn! I wish all the best for the Ugandan team. It is saddening that I can only watch on and imagine what it could have been.”
The 40th World Chess Olympiad will be held from 1 August to 14 August 14 in the town of Tromso, Norway.
Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency as authorities struggle to contain the Ebola virus pandemic in West Africa, with the death toll now climbing to almost 730.
Uganda has entered a team of ten chess players that includes Five Men and Five Ladies.