The National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Jasper Aligawesa, has explained that it is right for government to give officials at the London Olympics more allowances than the actual athletes making up Team Uganda.
Last week there were cries that while the athletes received US$72 per day for 15 days, the officials were bagging US$360 per day. “This is very genuine because the athletes together with their coaches are staying in the Olympics Village with free meals, while the officials like me will stay out and must cater for their own accommodation, meals and transport which is rather expensive,” explained Aligawesa who will also join the team in London this week.
//Cue in; Team Uganda including..
Cue out; ..They want to charge you,”//
The official further explained that the public should not look at government as the sole provider for the team for Olympics because other countries try to solicit for support from the private sector to support their teams. “Government only comes in to play the supportive role and this is what we have always done and it’s what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expects of us,” added Aligawesa.
However, the official failed to clearly explain why there are more officials than athletes at the Games, but added that having some of these officials is also for strategic and networking purposes which eventually benefit the country.
Interestingly besides the athletes and the direct officials like coaches and of course the Vice President Edward Ssekandi, the other officials already in London include; Charles Bakkabulindi (Sports Minister), Omara Apita (Sports Commissioner), William Blick (UOC President), Peninnah Kabenge (UOC Secretary General), Yusuf Mukoka (1st Assistant to Sports Minister) and Munabi (Planner, Ministry of Education and Sports).
The others expected to travel this week include Jasper Aligawesa (NCS General Secretary), Charles Egou Egwau (NCS Board Member) and Antony Katamba (NCS Board Chairman).
