COURTESY PHOTO
In two letters dated 20th September 2024, stamped and signed by Angela Sanderson ACMA CGMA the Head of Finance and Governance World Netball, the International Netball governing body had issued a staunch warning to a group of Netball stake holders in Uganda planning to antagonize a Special General Meeting set for tomorrow Saturday, 21st September 2024.
The letter was sent via an email to the chairperson Uganda Netball Normalization committee Moses Mwase ahead of tomorrow’s Special General Meeting aiming at passing the new drafted constitution.
“Uganda Netball Federation lost its accreditation from the Ugandan National Council
Of Sports towards the end of 2023 due to significant financial and irregularities and governance failures.
Due to this loss of recognition, which World Netball (WN) regards as a fundamental requirement for any national netball federation, WN had a decision to make as to whether ballot its members to suspend or expel Uganda
Netball Federation (UNF) or to support the establishment of a Normalization Committee to restore stability to netball in Uganda. The view taken by WN was that the group that would suffer most from suspension or expulsion of UNF would be the Athletes, not those that had been responsible for the financial and governance failings and therefore chose to establish the Normalisation Committee of which you are now Chair.
Conduct and Performance
WN is acutely aware that the affairs of UNF were considerably more complicated and less transparent than originally envisaged e.g. It has been impossible to interrogate the financial affairs of UNF due to the lack of co-operation from its trustees and former executive and that following an in-depth organisational review, it was felt that rather than attempt to resurrect UNF, a new organisation should be formed”. Reads the letter.
The International Netball governing body further lauded the Normalization committee for drafting a constitution that reflects best practice in the sport.
“I am delighted to see that a constitution that reflects best practice in our sport has been developed that will be shared with stakeholders at the forthcoming special general meeting.
WN confirms that this constitution reflects best practice and is in line with its statutes.
WN recognizes that the process of transition for the national netball association in Uganda has been complex and difficult and taken far more in terms of human resource than originally anticipated. Given the complexities faced WN is comfortable to have sanctioned an extended timeline of the Normalization Committee’s work (to 31st December 2024).
Based on the information that I have received I am confident that a new organization will be established and constituted within a few short months and full control handed over to the new executive and membership by the end of 2024.
WN has invested significant resources to ensure that continued existence of a National netball association in Uganda however, I note that there are several conflicting interests seeking to be involved in netball in Uganda and that not all of these actors do so with the sole intention of developing netball. It is important for all those involved to note that World Netball will not hesitate to invoke its disciplinary procedures against anyone seeking to disrupt the forthcoming Special General Meeting or any subsequent netball event. World Netball will not tolerate any level of abuse, victimisation or threatening behaviour against any member of the netball family.
Thank you for continued commitment to Netball in Uganda”. Reads the second letter.
