Olympics Tokyo2020: NCS is in Need of More 7bn For Team Uganda Preparations
Like any other nation, Uganda is in advanced level of preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics slated to take part in July this year.
National Council Sports is the governing body of Sports on behalf of the government of Uganda, and its their responsibility to fund team that is represent Uganda in Tokyo Japan.
In an exclusive interview with this website, National of Sports General Secretary, Dr. Bernard Ogwel revealed that the Council ran out of money and they need a supplementary budget from the government to a tune of seven billion shillings.
“At the moment, the current financial year, Olympics was allocated two billion shillings, which money is almost finished because we have had qualifiers for the last two financial years.” Said Dr. Ogwel before adding. “So we have requested the government to provide us with a supplementary budget, the total budget for Olympics is seven billions.”
According to reliable sources, the Council has asked a supplementary budget of over 20 billion shillings.
However, Ogwel is saying that the government is committed to fund the team to finals in Japan.
“We are hopeful that the government made a commitment for funding Olympic team. But you are also aware that there is a camp arranged between Uganda Government and that of Japan following the MoU signed in 2019.”
About the preparations so far, Dr. Ogwel said that they are monitoring and funding the potential athletes who are to qualify to Olympics and he said that the already qualified athletes are getting a minimum of one million Uganda shillings for their good preparations.
“We have been supporting all the athletes, be it boxing, athletics or else, we have been supporting them, though I am yet to receive the reports from National federations, but we have been supporting them with a minimum of one million.” He said.
There is a number of Ugandans that have so far qualified to Olympics, the likes of Shadir Musa Bwogi of boxing, Joshua Cheptegei, Sarah Chelangat, Stephen Kissa, Ronald Musagala, Halima Nakayi, Winnie Nanyondo, Juliet Chekwel, Stella Chesang, Peruth Chemutai, all from Athletics and Kathleen Grace Noble of Rowing.