The local motorsport governing body FMU will soon pass an amended constitution that will be in alignment with the National Sports Act (2023).
All sports entities were under a directive to realign their governing documents in accordance with the Act.
The National Sports Act; assented to in August 2023 provides a framework for the administration, development and regulation of the sports in Uganda.
All sports entities were required to have adopted a new governing framework in sync with the Act by 20th June this year.
The local motorsport governing body; whose constitutional amendment process was beleaguered by legal hurdles last year finally adopted a new governing document at an assembly this month.
One of the major requirements of the Sports Act was to have all sports activities cover at least 75% of districts in Uganda.
Another requirement is to the effect that the all federation delegates must be drawn from 50% of districts in the country.
“We have gone through the final stages of conforming with the new sports law which requires us to amend our constitution.”
“I am grateful to the members of the federation who have dedicated all their time deliberately to come up with a framework which we can take forward,” said the FMU president Jimmy Akena.
Key changes
The structure of the federation was among those that were altered.
From having an Executive and Management committees as the governing bodies, the new constitution will only consider a board as the only organ to manage the federation. The board will comprise nine persons.
“The primary objective was to amend the constitution to enhance it’s effectiveness and improve many aspects of its operation,” said Fred Obbo; the chairman of the constitution review working group.
The Contention
The proposed framework had drastically shifted the federation governance from club heads that constituted the Executive committee.
FMU has sixteen (16) affiliated clubs. The demand for a representation under the new structure arose heated debate among delegates. While Excom members sought two positions, the assembly however allowed for one slot with the other going to competitors.
For the first time in FMU’s governance, competitors will now have a place and say in the running of the federation.
“We managed to complete the aspect that was troublesome before. We have also enhanced the voice of the drivers. We had given them a platform which will serve them in a specifically professional manner but now that they have made it to the board, it is an icing on the cake,” added Obbo.
Besides the President and five other elected members, the FMU board members will include a representative each from motorcycling and automobile disciplines, clubs and competitors as well as the Chief Executive Officer.