Upon returning as the head of the President of the Uganda Archery Federation (UAF), Richard Mcbond Asiimwe is targeting schools to ease the spread of the sport across the country, as required by the National Sports Act 2023.
‘We want to take archery to schools because they have the two most important resources: the players and the facilities. There, it may be easier for us to spread the sport to different parts of the country,’ Asiimwe said upon securing another four-year term of office during the elective assembly at the Uganda Olympic Committee on Saturday.
‘We want to start grooming school children for future Commonwealth Games, Olympics [and other major tournaments].
Asiimwe is also targeting para-archers. ‘They are also a priority because they can represent us in the Paralympic Games.’
Compliance key
UOC and Commonwealth Sport president Donald Rukare commended the archery leadership for prioritising women and PWDs. He, however, implored them to pull all strings to ensure full compliance under the National Sports Act 2023 before the June 7 deadline.
‘We shouldn’t be in sports for titles, or for money. It should be for development of the sport. Thus, your urgent priority now should be securing compliance with the law by June 7. Because if you fail and NCS deregisters you, whatever you are doing here will be in vain.’
UAF became Archery Uganda, to remain a national association, only mandated to handle amateur archery, as per the new Sports Act. (National federations are mandated to handle amateur and professional sport).
The law also requires a national association to cover 50 percent of the districts-at least 73 districts-while federations cover 75 percent, which is 109 districts.
Asiimwe said covering 50 percent is the target, but it will require more government funding. For now, archery is allocated only Shs10m. But if the association does not comply by June 7, it will lose even that little funding.
Meanwhile, Andrew Geno, the association patron, is optimistic the sport will turn that sharp corner and progress.
ARCHERY UGANDA, EXCOM
President: Mcbond Asiimwe
Vice President (admin): Peter Masaba
Vice President (Technical): Sula Blick
Secretary General: Jonathan Cula
Assistant SG: Aisha Namukwaya
Treasurer: Kenneth Opedun
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Northern: Karim Malish
Eastern: Andrew Oboth Omalla
Central: Josephine Namayanja
Western: Dan Ahimbisibwe
Kampala: Ronald Mwanje
ATHLETE REPRESENTATIVES
Male: Hamza Ndiwalana
Female: Grace Lillian Ekwaro
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Woman representative: Maureen Awori