NCS cracks down on non-compliant sports federations 

The National Council of Sports (NCS) has sounded war drums to sports federations and associations that have failed to meet registration requirements under the National Sports Act, with several bodies facing derecognition for lacking national presence.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kampala, NCS General Secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel revealed that widespread non-compliance, limited institutional capacity, and governance disputes have hindered the registration process.

“Besides the Central Region, very few districts can mention more than five sports disciplines,” Ogwel said.

“From our evaluation and monitoring across the 146 districts, we have discovered that some federations should not even be called national federations — maybe village federations — because they operate only in specific areas.”

The NCS will gazette compliant federations by June 2026, while non-compliant bodies will face rejection and certificate revocation.

“By June 2026, we shall gazette the federations that qualify. Those that fail to comply will automatically be rejected and their certificates revoked,” Ogwel cautioned.

Ogwel criticized federations for fabricating accountability documents without conducting real activities, questioning their national reach and operational credibility. “Ask the federations what structures they use to promote the sport,” he noted.

With government investing in infrastructure, including a 25,000-seater stadium in every region, Ogwel emphasized that federations must do their part.

“Right now, we have money… Government is doing its part by providing infrastructure. The question is: what about the federations?” he said.

The NCS will enforce the law, with Ogwel reiterating, “We are going to close federations that do not meet the requirements. The law is already in place. We don’t have powers to change it — we are only implementing it.”

Forty-five federations submitted applications before the deadline, and the NCS awaits the outcome.