FMU decision should be  based on comprehensive thought process and not emotions

For the last few weeks motorsport has been in what is considered a cook room, tethering on pushing to adopt a new constitution or stick with the old one.to accept change for the better or to stick with status quo to protect vested interests.

For some reason, there is so much emotional attachment with arguments against changing the status quo and contrastingly so much logic change.

The Federation of Motorsports Clubs of Uganda (FMU) like all sports bodies are expected to as of September 2023 to align their scope of operations and activities to stipulations in new sports act 2023. This ultimately means reviewing their constitutions and administrative structures before the deadline of September 2024.

The Sports Act 2023 stipulates that for any sport to be considered a national sport, the body responsible for its management must register as either an Association managing amateur sports and should be active in 50% of the districts in Uganda, or as a Federation for both amateur and professional outlook and must be functional in at least 75% of the districts in Uganda. Currently Motorsport is active in about 25 districts which is about 17% coverage. That’s below the minimum coverage for a national governing body.

In October 2022, the present administration led by Dipu Rupareilla established a Constitutional Review Working Group (CRWG) to study the current constitution and recommend amendments for adoption. In October 2023 the same group was tasked to ensure the draft constitution aligns with the sports act 2023. All sports bodies managing any sports in Uganda and recognised by National Council of Sports is currently doing this.

However, individuals with adverse fear for change are resisting formation of a new constitution despite the glaring need to. Their focus is to keep status quo, unfortunately, the current FMU structure falls very short of the minimum requirements under the new law.

The draft revised constitution has also incorporated the FIA recommended administrative structure for national motorsport governing bodies. FIA is the world motorsports governing body that affiliates countries interested in running motorsport nationally.

While there is logic in the proposed draft document, there are still some areas that need to be further clarified, such as, the role of clubs and the proposed regional structures and how they factor into the overall governance Structure.

Currently, clubs have a lot of control over FMU management in the day to day running of operations. In the proposed structure clubs will be sub servient to the main stream administration which logically is the right way. This will provide the management with authority to set targets and standards for clubs to follow unconditionally. This is the biggest fear of the emotional apologists.

FMU will hold its assembly this weekend where the draft constitution is expected to be presented for consideration and possible adoption. At the same time, the administration will hand over to the next administration. In an Extra ordinary Assembly held on 3^rd January, it was decided that it would be best to appoint an interim administration for a period of 6 months whose mandate would be to ensure that the draft constitution is finalised and the regional roll out is set as well as ensuring commissions are functional in preparation for an election under the new constitution to be held in September 2024.

If the assembly is keen on longevity of the sport and protecting the current funding FMU is receiving from Government, then they will have to keep it logical. Decision should be based on comprehensive thought process and not emotions; vote to protect the future of motorsport and put aside any tantrums full of emotions and devoid of sense.