The President of the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) has come out to clear the air saying the government did not assist them during preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
Dominic Otuchet, told Uganda Radio Network on Friday evening that their federation did not get funding from the government to prepare for the Olympics. Otuchet revealed that UAF sent the government a budget of 25 million shillings for Olympics and 54 million shillings for the African Championships in Benin, but government did not receive any of the money they requested for.
The Athletics boss made it clear that they have been struggling to get monies to send athletes for International meets. The government through the Ministry of Education and Sports was given 400 million shillings for Team Uganda to prepare and also go for the Olympics.
There were cries that officials who travelled to London had pocketed US$360, while the athletes were paid US$72 for fifteen days. But Otuchet says although he does not want to speak about the allowances, he said it is high time the government starts thinking of investing when preparing athletes.
Steven Kiprotich made the country proud last Sunday when he won the 42km marathon gold medal, beating two Kenyans and bringing a stop to the 40-year long wait after the late John Akii Bua had bagged gold in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Speaking about Dorcus Inzikuru’s comment on one of the TV stations this week that they did not even have running shoes, Otuchet said those were lies.
Otuchet claimed that the federation even lost contact with one of Uganda’s medal hopes Moses Kipsiro yet it had communicated that it had some money to aid in his training.
Otuchet said that Kipsiro simply switched off his mobile phone when he was training in Iten in Kenya. Kipsiro had similarly complained of not receiving support in preparation for the 2012 London Olympics.
Otuchet who added that only Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) came to their rescue with some little money as the Olympics got nearer. UAF had 12 athletes qualify for the Olympics.
When URN spoke to the State Minister of Sports Charles Bakkabulindi, he also failed to explain if all the 400 million shillings meant for Olympics was used up and why it was not brought in early to help the athletes prepare.
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