What Uganda has to do
- Pay for flights, accommodation and allowances for international officials
- Purchase one international court and one training court including freight charges and taxes
- Increase the MTN Arena lighting to meet international standards
MTN Arenas lighting has come under scrutiny.
African women sitting volleyball teams might miss out of Rio 2016 Paralympics Games after the dream of Uganda’s hosting the event seems to be crumbling due to unsecured funds.
Sitting volleyball is volleyball for the physically disabled and is one of the disciplines hosted in the Paralympic Games.
According to a letter from the World Para volleyball Sports director Denis Le Breuilly, sent to various sports administrators, the cancellation of the event which had been set for November 4-11 at Lugogo will mean that no African women team will make it to the Paralympic Games. Eight countries had already confirmed participation in the qualifiers.
“I was given assurance that the first para volleyball women championships will receive the support from the government and other organisations. On that basis, the event was awarded to Uganda and duly publicised worldwide,” said Breuilly in a letter sent to state sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi, commissioner for sports Omara Apitta, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Olympic committee president William Blick, volleyball federation president Sadik Nasiwu, National Council of Sports general secretary Jasper Aligawesa and Gunter Lange the former sports technical director.
Breuilly was in Uganda in March and met all the individuals mentioned.
“At this stage we have no officials to run the event, no equipment and a stadium that has received no attention. Needless to say, I am not impressed as I have put in months of work advising and planning,” Breuilly said.
The Uganda Paralympic president Bumali Mpindi said that they were still hopeful the event will go on but were seeking an appointment with Government officials.
NCS had offered sh10m for organising the event.
By Norman Katende, The New Vision
