AS a former boxer, Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso (Rtd) knows the psychological edge pre-fight hype can give a pugilist going into the ring.
Muhammad Ali first perfected the art in the sixties, and could literally talk his way to victory. Nyangweso competed at the 1960 Olympics as a light middle-weight with the likes of Muhammad Ali, and listening to him lately, he clearly has learnt a thing or two from the American boxing legend.
Nyangweso has decided to get into the minds of his potential rivals early by not only rebuffing stories that he is too ill to contest, but stating that the next Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) polls will only be held – when he is ready for them.
“The elections will either be there this year or next year once we are ready. There is no need for panic,†Nyangweso said.
That is clearly a bluff, because the UOC constitution says that elections must be held in the first six months after an Olympic Games. That means no longer than February.
To further quell doubts that he might have lost control of the UOC after a long illness, the 68-year-old former army general said he sees no reason why he cannot get another term.
“It will only be the voters to end my leadership at UOC. If they see that I have served well and they grant me another term, I will continue as president,†said Nyangweso.
“I will remain UOC executive member till death whether those who don’t want me here like it or not,†he charged.
Nyangweso is actually one of only 12 Africans on the powerful IOC body whose 126 members tour the world and live like royals – all in the name of promoting Olympism.
The fact that Nyangweso is automatically a UOC member because of his IOC rank is not in dispute. What is in dispute is his reign as head of the UOC since 1981.
Nyangweso has for the most part of his reign returned to the Olympic job unopposed, but could face his first real challenge this time.
The last time he faced a challenge was in the early nineties, when James Sekajugo went to the helm of the African Badminton Federation.
That challenge withered but a decade later, the country has another head of an African body. Geno Omalla was early this year picked as the Africa Archery chief and is not hiding his ambitions to take charge locally.
 “I long for a shake-up. There is need for proper administration,†revealed Omalla.
There are 16 UOC registered associations that have a vote each in the elections. They are archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, swimming, cycling, football, handball, hockey, shooting, table tennis, volleyball, weight lifting and wrestling.
If elected again, he will be the longest serving Ugandan sports administrator, having first headed the National Council of Sports in 1970.
Nyangweso is also a former Army Commander, Army Chief of Staff, Ambassador and minister during Idi Amin’s regime.
He has also been head of the Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation, and the Council of African Olympic Committees on top of being
| Good enough to head UOC? Roger Ddungu It is said that Ddungu took up the chairmanship of the boxing federation not so much because he loved the sport, but it provides a platform to UOC. He is a vice-president but might have tainted his name with the way he handled the Olympic team in Beijing where athletes accused him of hoarding three quarters of the kit for himself. He has also been weakened by the struggle to hold onto his boxing job. Gabriel Oloka Was rewarded with the job UOC secretary after earning a reputation for leading battles by the associations against the country’s leading sports officials in NCS and the ministry. But he is without a federation to boost his bid. Dan Tamwesigire He heads the most recognized Olympic sport, athletics. Currently the Commissioner of Sports in the education and sports ministry, Tamwesigire’s decision not to give up the national athletics federation job after his appointment was indicative of his ambitions. Salim Musoke How much money does the Uganda Olympic Committee get from abroad? No one but UOC treasurer Salim Musoke and Nyangweso know. Musoke does all the dirty work for his UOC boss and literally runs its affairs. He has run Nyangweso’s electoral machine and will be king maker Godfrey Nyakana The former boxer now LC3 chairman Kampala Central Division, can only compete if he can wrest the Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation (UABF) from Ddungu. Nyakana heads a breakaway faction challenging UABF’S legitimacy. Andrew Omalla Geno He is the president of the African Archery Federation and has shown interest in the top job. He is not a newcomer to the committee, having served on it before. |
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