A faction led by Fred Maiso and Hajji Buruhan Ssekibenga has bitterly protested the re-election of Sam ‘Mahaba’ Muwonge as the President of Uganda Cycling Association (UCA).
The rival faction suggests that Muwonge’s re-election, a fortnight ago, was null and void because he (Muwonge) had been impeached by the association delegates’ assembly held at the close of last year.
During a press conference conducted at the Lugogo Tennis Club premises in Kampala on Friday morning, Maiso and company assert that the true association is at the moment being run by an interim committee headed by him.
Flanked by Ssekibenga, Nicholas Kalyango (official Luwero Cycling Club), Rachael Kampire (Women Representative on Interim Committee), Lillian Nassozi and Allen Nabagereka (interim committee members), Maiso noted;
The entire cycling fraternity constituting of delegates from the known true clubs disbanded the old executive that was headed by Sam Muwonge.
So, we appointed an new interim Executive with a fresh constitutional amendment committee.
There is no way he (Muwonge) could be re-elected when he was still banned.
Muwonge bounced back unopposed a few days ago during the ‘UCA Delegates Conference’ held in Lugogo, Kampala.
Fresh elections:
There are proposed elections slated for this Sunday at Lugogo Tennis Courts to get the house in order.
“We have already written to the National Council of Sports who are mandated to witness as observers not as the ones presiding over the elections,” Maiso added.
A number of cyclists from Tropic Heat, Trans Africa, Agro Map, Kakiri, Select Club from Kalewere, Luwero Cycling Club, Masaka, Super Sport, Iganga, Busoga Cycling Club (Jinja), Uganda Mountain Bike, Kirinya attended the media briefing.
Genesis of Cycling woes:
Over 8 months ago, several Cycling clubs in Uganda staged a mild but peaceful protest in Kampala against the leadership of Cycling association president, Sam ‘Mahaba’ Muwonge.
They presented a petition to the office of the State Minister for Sports, Charles Bakabulindi.
The petition was received by the DPC, Kampala Metropolitan, Afande Baguma because Bakabulindi was out of office since he had traveled to Entebbe for state duties.
Some of the issues raised then by the clubs against Muwonge included failure to convene assemblies as mandated by the constitution, creating pseudo clubs, dictatorial leadership, corruption and mismanagement of funds, over staying in power among others.
It was then agreed upon that the aggrieved group would meet with the minister later to solve matters diplomatically.
Late last year, the clubs through a Delegates Assembly passed a vote of no confidence in Muwonge and his entire executive as an Interim Executive and Constitutional Review Committee was appointed.
In a shape twist of events, a NCS supervised election saw Muwonge bounce back as the association president.
The question that stands is, “Will Sunday’s election be held successfully and if so, will it count anyway?”