The national Olympic Committee (RNOSC) saga took another twist when the office’s boss, Theogene Uwayo, announced his resignation effective Friday, November 4.
In a letter addressed to the RNOSC executive committee, Uwayo cited failure to have a common vision with some members of the executive committee as the main reason behind his decision.
It is reported that he had issues with the executive committee amid a saga that saw the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) arrest two RNOSC members of staff, suspecting them of forgery and making decisions basing on favoritism, friendship or nepotism. Jean-Jacques Mugisha, the head of Rwanda's mission to the Commonwealth Games, and Jean de Dieu Mukundiyukuri, the Executive Director at RNOSC, were reported to have obtained travel documents for seven people who were not meant to be part of the delegation that traveled to Birmingham for the Commonwealth games in July.
Times Sport looks at the winners and losers of the saga that involves individuals who are now on the Rwanda Investigation Bureau’s watch:
Winners
RNOSC executive committee
The RNOSC saga became more than just about firing Mukundiyukuri and Mugisha but an internal matter that saw the Olympic committee divided over the decision to expel the duo.
In Uwayo’s opinion, a one-month suspension was enough for the duo to help them rethink about professionalism and taking their responsibilities serious.
But when the executive committee considered firing them permanently given the gravity of their mistakes that sparked the saga, Uwayo intervened and requested the committee to revoke the decision, stirring a disagreement between him and the members of the committee.
It’s a battle that many think the executive committee won when Uwayo failed to calm the situation in his office until he resigned.
Losers
Mukundiyukuri and Mugisha
Only a few would doubt the competences and technical expertise that Mukundiyukuri and Mugisha showed during their time at RNOSC.
But when it comes to matters of accountability, their worth raised questions. They are now paying the price of mistakes that the committee finds intolerable.
The two were, as a result, arrested and are under investigation.
They are also on the brink of losing their jobs. Their future in office now hangs in balance with the executive committee already considering to fire them.
The committee members had initially slapped the duo a one-month suspension, from September 29 to October 29. But it is understood that they realized that the suspension was not enough compared to the gravity of their mistakes.
Theogene Uwayo
Uwayo had issues with the rest of the RNOSC executive committee members ever since they agreed to fire Mukundiyukuri and Mugisha. He was, in his opinion, convinced that suspension was enough for them.
Uwayo lost the battle in the saga the time he sided with staff regardless of their mistakes and requested the committee to call them back to office. The decision did not go well with the rest of the executive committee who lost confidence in him.
That forced him to resign from his position in a letter addressed to the Olympic Committee (RNOSC) on Friday, November 4.
National Olympic Committee (RNOSC)
The mistakes committed by the body’s staff during the Birmingham Games campaign are increasingly casting doubts over the office’s accountability while also putting its reputation at stake.
The office’s management now looks shaky as far as accountability is concerned.