By Mubiru Ivan
The Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) go to the polls to elect new office bearers within a week, but not without major talking points.
Top of the list is a report, released by the Vetting Committee on Thursday that nullified Clive Kyazze’s candidature for General Secretary and cleared Ritah Aliguma for presidency.
The vetting committee, headed by Stephen Ouma Bwire, was appointed by the Association’s Executive Committee to scrutinize aspiring candidates for the 2018 Elections. Other members of said committee are Dorothy Nekesa, Eddy Khan Ssemugenyi, Nannyonjo Irene Deborah and Moses Alsayed Lubega.
According to the committee report, Kyazze was ineligible to stand because he works for online betting powerhouse Betway. Also, the committee says he is not a practising journalist since he could not produce an appointment letter from the state-owned Star FM.
“The committee re-examined his case and asked Mr Kyazze to submit recommendation letters from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Human Resource Manager where the Star FM falls. The Committee also requested Mr Clive Kyazze to make available an appointment letter from Betway stipulating his position and terms of service employment therein enshrined,” the report reads in part.
“The Vetting Committee investigated the employment status of the candidate and discovered he does not work at Star FM in the capacity he claimed. The committee also discovered that Mr Clive Kyazze is a Communications Officer with Betway and not a Marketing Officer.”
The report goes on the candidate submitted falsified documents.
The same, however, could not be said of Aliguma, who, despite not being involved in active journalism for a couple of years, is not an employee of UBC.
In 39 words, Mr Ouma cleared Aliguma, the current Uspa vice president to stand for the association’s top job.
“She is attached to Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Television as Sports Presenter and Analyst since 2014. She has never defaulted on his annual membership fees, and has never contravened USPA Constitution.
Action taken: Cleared to contest for the USPA Presidency,” Ouma said.
She comes up against favourite Patrick Kanyomozi and NTV’s Sam Mpoza.
Sabiti Muwanga is the outgoing president after serving the mandated two two-year terms.
Kyazze’s elimination leaves New Vision’s Johnson Were unopposed.
Others cleared are Francisco Bwambale (organising secretary) as well Mubarak Kasule and Agnes Katende Nalongo for secretary.
The report has however, come under scrutiny, with sports scribes wondering why the committee applied double standards in the course of vetting.
“If Ouma and crew claim Ritah is an employee under the current management, let her prove to us that she received last months salary or any allowances from UBC and show us the screenshot of the salary payslip,” vocal Jimmy Aporu, who was disqualified from contesting as Organising Secretary said. “I bet she can not produce it because she has never been employed there.”
Another sports scribe, Peter Tabu said if they were to go by the the constitution stating that aspiring candidates should be ‘active’ sports journalists then the report was ‘null and void’.
“We all currently know who is and who is not an active sports journalist. By active I mean someone employed by a media house,” he added.
But Ouma defended the report saying legally they cannot respond to every outburst or complaint.
“Any member who wishes to complain should be prepared to go on record and petition officially,” he threatened.
Voting for new Uspa office bearers is due November 24.
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