New details have emerged on why FUFA was reportedly fined $10,000 (Shs37m) by the Egyptian government after Hon. Allan Ssewanyana, the Shadow Minister of Sports ‘primitively’ lit fireworks -contrary to the rules.
The matter was brought to the floor of Parliament by Hon. Anita Among while debating a statement by Charles Bakabulindi, State Minister for Sports on both Cranes and She Cranes international tournaments held at Egypt and Liverpool, London respectively.
“We got a problem as members of Parliament lit fireworks and FUFA was fined $10,000. I expected the Minister to raise it because it is really a bad thing for Uganda.”
Hon. Odongo Otto questioned Among why she was sugarcoating the matter by hiding the identity of the person behind the primitive action, saying: “The names of the members should be mentioned. It is true that fireworks was lit, we want to know who the member is and the implication for Uganda’s football.”
Among replied: “The Shadow Minister of Sports Allan Ssewanyana is the one who lit the fireworks and it could have been in good faith but it didn’t go well with the government of Egypt thus the fine”
Not to be out done, Ssewanyana took to the floor accusing Among of trying to make kickback on allowances of Cranes players; calling for investigations to be handled regarding corruption allegations in FUFA.
His allegations angered Among, who questioned the stability of Ssewanyana’s senses, arguing: “I think the member is speaking out of his senses. I am not a poor MP like anybody else that you would imagine would get a kickback.”
Oulanyah lashed out at Ssewanyana for failing to keep the integrity of Parliament by failure to table evidence to back up his claims but Ssewanyana stood ground. “I am not withdrawing that statement, I am concerned with every single coin given to sports,” he said.
Outraged by Ssewanyana’s defiance, Oulanyah asked him to deal with the matter demanding tabling evidence to back up Among corruption allegations -forcing Ssewnyana to withdraw his statements. “When there is an investigation committee, I am ready to table evidence but for a mean time, I am withdrawing the statement.”
But Odong rejected Ssewanyana’s withdrawal and threatened to move a motion barring the Shadow Sports Minister from commenting on FUFA matters because of conflict of interest, arguing that: “The member contested to be FUFA president and got one vote. He wrote a letter to FIFA international asking them to block any funding to FUIFA because there is corruption. I will be submitting motion that he no longer submits on this issue.”
Minister Florence Nakiwala, who is also Third FUFA Vice President, also questioned Ssewanyana’s claims of caring about Cranes money –saying that he is simply a disgrace to the country. “He is one of the people who led to questioning of the integrity of Uganda fans leading security to surround MPs. Is he in order to say that he cares about Cranes when he is a disgrace to other countries?”
Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) called for closer scrutiny into delegation of people representing Uganda, alleging that some of the people that accompanied Uganda Cranes have bad luck, prompting Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah to ask if he had a list of people with bad luck.
Hon. Jane Nabulindo (Busia Woman) informed Government that residents in Busia are demanding for a construction of a national stadium in recognition of goal keeper Denis Onyango like was the case with Akii Bua.
Odong also lashed out at Nakiwala’s cluelessness on handling the strike staged by the players over allowances dispute, stating: “The Minister wasn’t in charge of the delegation; it took a lot of effort to persuade her to talk to the players. This culture of picking any minister who doesn’t know anything about sports should stop. Minister Nakiwala wasn’t in charge and completely doesn’t understand the psychology of players. We couldn’t get access to her because of the way they position themselves.”
In response to corruption allegations, Bakabulindi told off Ssewanyana, saying: “I don’t deal with allegations, I deal with facts. I can’t stand here to say that FUFA is corrupt or not. I was the leader of delegations not Nakiwala.”
