Hamson Obua: No better time to serve booming sports sector

Overall, the appointment of Ajuri County Member of Parliament (MP) Hamson Obua as State Minister for Sports on Saturday was greeted with hope and optimism.
Obua replaces Workers’ MP Charles Bakkabulindi, who joined Parliament in 1996 and was appointed by President Museveni to this post in 2005.
“I am happy to join this cabinet,” Obua, who got the news while in camp where he is representing the Parliament of Uganda as a footballer in the East Africa Inter Parliamentary Games, said.
Bakka divided opinion as he oversaw a very problematic reign but maintained his status despite reshuffles in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2016.
Bakka’s reign was long marred by infighting in federations especially football, cycling, boxing and table tennis.
The most prominent wrangle involved Fufa, Fufa Super League (FSL) and Uganda Super League (USLL).
He was so engrossed in that one that in 2015, Constitutional Court judge Geoffrey Kiryabwire cautioned and ordered Bakkabulindi to pay unspecified costs to complainants USLL, after he was found guilty of disobeying court orders. Court stopped the Fufa elections but the minister went ahead to sanction them on August 31, 2013.
However to his credit, by the time of his departure, most of the infighting in federations had been quelled thanks to the National Council of Sports (NCS) Statutory Instrument 38 gazetted in April 2014 that entrusted the governing body with the authority to register all national sports federations.
Even the divisive war between NCS and Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) seems to be fizzling out.
The sector is also booming with activity and very engaged national teams while government funding has increased to Shs27.1bn from Shs400m in 2005.

New dawn
It is because of such gigantic steps that Obua, who has always been vocal about developments in the sector, believes his predecessor and “the people serving sports have set a good base for the sector to an advance.”
His interview with Daily Monitor, hours after his appointment, echoed his message from April last year when he moved a motion in Parliament to recognize the efforts of members of Team Uganda for their performance at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.
“The future of our sports is exceedingly bright. However, investing in sports cannot continue to be just a choice in this millennium,” Obua said, then.
He has identified the law, infrastructure and funding as the main areas to focus his energies for his tenure that could run up to the aftermath of the 2021 general elections.
In his motion then, Obua prayed that “Parliament also urges government to fast track the completion of the High Altitude Centre in Teryet that was promised in 2006 and other sports facilities.
It is easy to thank the athletes but it is in this prayer that we must pass the litmus test on whether we can really promote sports.”
Later that year, the now 39- year- old MP and his counterpart from Kwania County Tonny Ayoo requested President Museveni to prompt a public progressive report on the construction of Akii Bua Memorial Stadium in Lira after it was highlighted that funds meant to fast track it’s refurbishment had been mismanaged.
In his final prayer, Obua urged government to repeal the 1964 Sports Act, which he termed as obsolete and old fashioned law that does not support the professionalization of the sector.
“We are running sports with a law of the 20th century in the 21st century. I want to give government an ultimatum of one month. If that bill is not tabled, I will seek leave of Parliament to table a private member’s bill on the same,” Obua warned.
The law, Bakkabulindi said, was with the first Parliamentary council but has never been presented to the floor for debate. Obua, who certainly wears his heart on his sleeves, never took his leave but now has a platform to walk his talk.
“I don’t know where the draft is but we shall look at it and compare notes.
For funding, we have to look beyond government because so many sectors are competing for that money. My dream is to engage with and bring as many corporate bodies on board as possible.”
He also enjoys a good relationship with Fufa boss Moses Magogo and was among those that welcomed the latter back to office in a function at Skyz Hotel - Naguru last week.
The function received rave and critical reviews in equal measure as Magogo had just served a 73 days suspension from office - sanctioned by Fifa - for his part in the resale of 2014 World Cup tickets.
“I am happy to work with everyone. As a minister, my role is mostly about formulating policy while the federations also have their role to play.
In the end we shall need the support of every Ugandan to take the sector forward,” Obua said.