Sports and Education Minister and First Lady, Janet Museveni, has once again issued an order, instructing Uganda Netball Federation (UNF) President, Sarah Babirye Kityo, to refrain from returning to her office until investigations into her conduct are completed.
The directive conveyed through a letter dated October 4, 2023, addressed to Ambrose Tashobya, Chairperson of the National Council of Sports (NCS), states that Brig. General Flavia Byekwaso is to serve as the acting President of the federation during this period.
The letter also specifies that no further funding will be provided to the Uganda Netball Federation until the issues related to leadership and governance are resolved.
Furthermore, it instructs the NCS Chairman to revoke the certificate of recognition granted to the Uganda Netball Federation unless they meet the requirements of a National Sports Federation.
This is not the first time that First Lady Janet Museveni has ordered Babirye to step aside to allow investigations. In April 2023, a high-level meeting was convened at State House, Nakasero, involving officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports, the National Council of Sports, and UNF. During this meeting, Babirye was directed to step aside for three months, enabling a probe into allegations such as player mistreatment during the 2021 Pent Series, player harassment, financial mismanagement, and failure to account for funds.
After the three-month suspension, Babirye attempted to return to her office but faced resistance. Armed policemen, acting on Byekwaso’s orders, tried to evict her.
Since her contentious return, a conflict has reportedly persisted between Babirye and her Vice President, Byekwaso.
Speaking in an interview on NBS Sport about the recent developments, Babirye remains firm in her claim that she is still the UNF President, asserting that she has not received any official letter stating otherwise.
She expressed her frustration at being labelled a thief for funds she insists she never received.
“NCS shouldn’t ask me to account for funds I didn’t receive. You can’t give me Shs186 million and then ask me to account for Shs425 million,” she said.
