The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has reportedly written expressing their bitterness in the way management matters at the Ugandan Olympic Committee (UOC) are finding their way in the media.
Last Thursday, six members of the UOC executive committee announced at a press conference that they are not party to the dictatorial style of management showed by their President Roger Hans Kiyonga Ddungu. The members said Ddungu was running UOC like he was running his own business.
Nicholas P’Minga, the UOC Assistant Secretary General and Ddungu’s only ally on the executive told URN today that they had received a communication from IOC giving guidance that these matters should not be handled in the media as it’s against the Olympic charter. When asked to elaborate more, P’Minga, a veteran sports administrator said he did not want to speak about many things happening in UOC, but maintained that matters must be handled from within the family.
Six members last week signed a document against Ddungu’s style of work. The six included first vice president William Blick, Secretary General Penninah Kabenge, Treasurer Godfrey Nuwagaba, and Sanyu Sharifa, Ambrose Tashobya and Donald Rukare who are all committee members.
The UOC members said although the constitution mandates the executive to select competitors and officials for the Olympics, the preparations for the 2012 London Olympics have been solely handled by Ddungu who has also blocked their involvement.
The members also said they were surprised to read in the press that Ddungu had unilaterally and without their mandate decided to constitute a tribunal to handle petitions and disciplinary matters.
Two weeks ago, Ddungu rejected a probe report by some members of the executive that cleared his Secretary General Kabenge of forgery allegations. Ddungu had accused Kabenge of forging his signature to be nominated for an IOC Award she received in the US last month.
