$14,000 missing from athletics federation coffers

Up to US dollar 13,746 (about Rwf. 8.2 million) is unaccounted for from the athletics federation accounts as internal wrangles continue to rock the local athletics fraternity.

The news of the missing funds was confirmed by the federation executive secretary Straton Nzabazumutima on Friday.

Nzabazumutima said, "Federation money amounting to $13,975 was withdrawn on August 22 by former vice president Louis Rurangirwa.”

Rurangirwa was a member of the former executive committee which was disbanded on August 14 by the federation general assembly.

"No event was held that would have taken that amount of money.  The only event we know of was the World Athletics Championships (held in Daegu, South Korea) was financed by the government,” the official told Sunday Times by phone.

Accused remains adamant

Nzabazumutima also noted that the accused official (Rurangirwa) has vehemently failed to open the federation premises claiming that he is still the acting vice president.

And when contacted for a comment, Rurangirwa said, "The money was withdrawn with a purpose of sending our team to the world athletics championship because IAAF had promised to reimburse the costs of our team since we had delayed to confirm our participation.”

"We (federation officials) then took an initiative to purchase air tickets and other essentials for our team but the athletes refused to go on last minute on orders of the Ministry of Sports and Rwanda Olympic committee,” he added.

The Ministry of Sports, Youth and Culture has been funding costs for all national teams ahead of international events but what forced Rurangirwa and his team, which had actually been suspended, to access the funds, remains a question to answer.

Following the resignation of former president Gerald Ntare, Rurangirwa has failed to handover the federation’s premises for access to other employees of the federation.

The federation is expected to hold fresh elections on October 22, 2011 to fill vacant positions for president, secretary general, treasurer and two vice presidents.

Minister declares

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Protais Mitali has declared that he will only recognise activities done and organised by the interim committee led by Alexander Kayitsinga.

The interim committee was set up by athletics federation General Assembly that converged on August 14 to run the federation affairs until new team is elected.

Bank statements from EcoBank from July 1 to October 6 which Sunday Sport possesses indicate that Rurangirwa withdrew $13,746 and $229 respectively on August 22.

Ends