Summary:
- WADA had found the earlier provisions of the National Sports Act inadequate and threatened to ban Ugandan athletes from international competitions if the issues were not addressed.
KAMPALA: In a decisive move to safeguard Uganda’s athletes from potential international sanctions, the Parliament of Uganda has passed the National Sports Amendment Bill, 2024.
The legislation aims to reaffirm the independence of the National Anti-Doping Agency and align Uganda’s laws with global anti-doping standards, following concerns raised by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA had found the earlier provisions of the National Sports Act inadequate and threatened to ban Ugandan athletes from international competitions if the issues were not addressed.
The bill, tabled by Peter Ogwang, the Minister of State for Sports, during Thursday’s plenary sitting, bypassed the usual referral to the Education Committee after Parliament suspended Rule 129 of its Rules of Procedure.
Minister Ogwang emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting the risks Uganda faced, including losing hosting rights for major events like the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Minister Ogwang explained that although Uganda ratified the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport in 2007, the National Sports Act remained misaligned with the World Anti-Doping Code. This misalignment put Uganda’s participation in international sports at risk.
“The justification for the suspension is the urgent need to align the National Sports Act with the World Anti-Doping Code and the UNESCO international convention against doping. Uganda must urgently comply or risk losing hosting rights for CHAN, AFCON, and other international competitions. The Bill has only four clauses, all aimed at aligning with global anti-doping standards,” Ogwang stressed.
Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa elaborated that the amendments were necessary to ensure the National Anti-Doping Agency operates independently, free from interference by any institution or individual.
“When we sent the previous Bill to the World Anti-Doping Association, they required clarity on specific aspects, particularly the independence of the body handling anti-doping. This amendment explicitly guarantees that independence,” Kiryowa noted.
While the bill was passed, it sparked heated debate. Jonathan Odur (Erute South) criticized the government for rushing the legislation, accusing it of sidelining parliamentary procedures and treating MPs like “robots.”
“Even when the matter is urgent, proper procedures must be followed. The Minister has not justified why this Bill must be passed in a single sitting. There’s no evidence that athletes are at immediate risk of being disqualified,” Odur argued.
Despite such objections, the bill’s passage marks a critical step toward securing Uganda’s place on the global sports stage. With these amendments, Uganda not only aligns itself with international regulations but also ensures that its athletes can continue to compete and thrive on the world stage.
