Overview:
Jjagwe revealed to Members of Parliament on the Adhoc committee set up to investigate the operations of the National Council of Sports (NCS) that the Table Tennis association has managed to wither down the storm and operate amidst different challenges as limited funding, lack of enough playing equipment, shortage of professional full -time staff among others.
Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) president Robert Jjagwe is pleased for the keen attention expressed by Parliament of Uganda into improving sports, particularily Table Tennis in this country.
Jjagwe revealed to Members of Parliament on the Adhoc committee set up to investigate the operations of the National Council of Sports (NCS) that the Table Tennis association has managed to wither down the storm and operate amidst different challenges as limited funding, lack of enough playing equipment, shortage of professional full-time staff among others.
During their tour at the head offices of the UTTA found on Access Building along Rubaga Road in Kampala, the Members of Parliament led by Bukomansibi county MP, Hon. Geofrey Ssolo Kayemba, Hon. Agnes Acibu, Hon. Margaret Makhoha and Hon Iddi Isabirye.
Jjagwe lauded the initiative by MP’s to visit the premises of Table Tennis, the first gesture undertaken to identify their key needs, shortfalls and witness first hand their own operations.
“Our most sincere thanks to the Hon. MPs who visited our humble, small but beautiful Table Tennis office. They became the first official government delegation to visit our office since inception” Jjagwe noted.
Pleas:
He politely requested for the necessary assistance to help in the growth of the game with more funding to enable recruitment of professional staff to establish a sound secretariat, pay monthly rent and run better competitions.
The Members of Parliament witnessed that even without any professional staff in a Professional Secretariat, we are able to have all needed documents, activities, developments and competitions running quite impressively and well documented. We do our work so dedicatedly with no monthly pay. We have been able to establish an impressive office without any support for this from any source. We have requested them to help us improve the table tennis budget allocation so that we can afford to pay a professional Secretariat to have the sport run much more professionally by full time paid staff.
Robert Jjagwe, President Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA)
Shadow minister of sports in the opposition government Hon Kayemba told Kawowo Sports that the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) is one of those sports bodies that the MP’s visited on fact finding missions and sooner than later, the findings will be released in a detailed report.
Netball, Football and Boxing are the sports that the MP’s visited to find out first hand, their operations.
We have been able to visit the different sports federations and associations to see first-hand how they operate. We have been able to see the challenges and good things. All these will be established in a detailed report with key facts and bold recommendations.
Hon Geofrey Kayemba Ssolo, Member of Parliament for Bukomansimbi south
Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) manufactures their own playing tables, an initiative that the legislators were pleased with.
“The MPs were also extremely impressed with our enormous equipment manufacture project with all equipment showcased to them 100% Ugandan made and of impressive standards and durability. We are most grateful for your visit and your kind words of encouragement and support to our achievements and projects” Jjagwe added.
The National Council of Sports (NCS) is under intense pressure from the Parliament of Uganda to explain issues of accountability and governance. The MP’s report will soon be made public.
