NCS warns non-compliant sports bodies will lose funding and recognition by June 7
Associations and federations were given a five-month compliance period starting in January to meet the new standards, but many have not done so.
NCS General Secretary Patrick Ogwel (left) addresses a press conference flanked by NCS Senior Legal Officer Diana Kwesiga and NCS Licensing Officer Leslie Laker Okot. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
The National Council of Sports (NCS) has confirmed it will automatically reject registration applications and revoke certificates of recognition for any federation or association that does not meet all statutory requirements under the new National Sports Act 2023 by June 7.
This will also mean missing out on government funding and being relegated to "promotion status."
Associations and federations were given a five-month compliance period starting in January to meet the new standards, but many have not done so. To date, only three sports organizations have formally submitted documentation to address non-compliance: Uganda Rugby, the Kabaddi Federation of Uganda, and Uganda Athletics. After the June deadline, only the NCS board may grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
At a press conference in Lugogo on Monday, NCS General Secretary Patrick Ogwel, joined by other officials, emphasized that the registration and compliance process is a key legal and institutional reform to promote transparency, accountability, good governance, legitimacy, and national character in Uganda's sports sector. He urged stakeholders to approach the remaining compliance period with seriousness and urgency.
To support compliance, NCS conducted a nationwide verification and support exercise in February and March 2026, providing legal and technical guidance to national sports organizations.
Key components included officer verification, compliance guidance, national participation, lawful leadership elections, constitutional alignment with the new law, financial accountability, and administrative compliance.
Ogwel stated that all affected organizations must fully address all non-compliance issues previously communicated by NCS, submit all outstanding documents, align their constitutions with the new law, regularize their leadership and governance structures, establish proper financial accountability systems, demonstrate national character and operational functionality, and fully cooperate with any remaining verification engagements.
"NCS remains fully committed to executing its regulatory mandate firmly, fairly, and in strict accordance with the law to ensure that only compliant and properly governed organizations are entrusted with the administration and promotion of sports in Uganda," Ogwel said.
Six organizations may have their certificates revoked for failing to file registration applications: the Uganda Ultimate Frisbee Association, Uganda Floorball Association, Uganda Deaf Sports Federation, Association of Uganda University Sports, Uganda Rollball Association, and Uganda Body Building and Fitness Association.
The NCS Board also resolved to reject the applications of the Uganda Dragon Boat Federation and Uganda Canoe Kayak Federation after finding that forged audited accounts had been submitted twice.
Additionally, NCS reviewed twenty objections to the registration of eight national sports organizations: Cricket Uganda, Uganda Darts Association, Uganda Draughts Federation, Uganda Lacrosse Association, VX Uganda, Uganda Rowing Federation, Uganda Table Tennis Association, and Uganda Boxing Federation. The Uganda Table Tennis Association and Uganda Boxing Federation received the most objections, with six and eight respectively.
Legal officer Diana Kwesiga said the major grounds of objection related to compliance with registration requirements, including governance concerns, constitutional compliance, legitimacy of office bearers, and administrative irregularities.
Kwesiga noted that one of the challenges organizations raised was lack of funding. "Obviously, some of them receive government funding, but they state that it is not enough," she said. "One of the activities they are required to undertake that requires a lot of money is the spread of the sport. If it is an association, they are required to be in 50% of the districts in Uganda, which is about 73 districts. We have encouraged them and given them tips on how to achieve this coverage within the resources they have. Some allege that the time is not enough."