Uganda Rugby Union Suspends Lekuru Amidst Team Controversy

Emily Lekuru, a prominent player in the Uganda Lady Cranes, finds herself suspended by the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) in a case entangled with conflicting claims and accusations. The controversy began when Lekuru, initially named in the 12-player traveling team for the World Rugby Challenger Series in Dubai, withdrew at the last minute, citing a busy work schedule.

Lekuru, the country’s leading try-scorer in the previous season, informed her followers on social media that she had communicated her unavailability to Prossy Nakakande, the Team Manager, due to work commitments at Rugby Tackling Life (RTL), where she serves as the sole accountant. However, accusations and counter-accusations between Lekuru, URU, the club, and her employer escalated the situation.

Coach Charles Onen initially included Lekuru in the traveling squad, but shortly after, it was confirmed that she had requested to be left out. The URU, citing World Rugby regulation 9.32, imposed a suspension on Lekuru from all Black Pearls local calendar engagements until January 24. Additionally, a disciplinary hearing is scheduled for January 17.

The URU’s suspension prompted a response from Black Pearls Rugby Club, arguing that URU had not formally requested the player’s release and that the club had no role in preventing Lekuru from traveling. Black Pearls asserted that Lekuru, being an employee of RTL, faced work-related constraints, which the club was not involved in.

The conflicting narratives leave room for speculation regarding proper communication channels between the national team, clubs, and players. The URU Vice President-Technical, Eric Butime, offered no comment on the situation but emphasized that players sign a code of conduct with the national teams and URU.

Lekuru, in her defense, claimed she informed Nakakande of her employer’s stance, questioning whether the Team Manager failed in her duties. The disciplinary committee is expected to investigate these aspects to determine the validity of the suspension.

As the case unfolds, the suspension has raised concerns among sponsors, exemplified by George Mbalu, who heads Lone Africa, an engineering firm sponsoring Black Pearls. Mbalu expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation, emphasizing the importance of effective team management and its impact on sponsors’ investments.

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