Sportswear Company Puma Terminates Contract With Ugandan Federation

Sports manufacturer Puma has "reportedly terminated" its contract as the official suppliers of sports kits to Uganda, according to Katende & Bakama of NEW VISION. Most of the kits offered to the country ahead of major events "have not been used for their intended purpose." Officials "usually take the bulk" of the kits for personal use. Ugandan runners were "awakened to the harsh reality" at the World Cross Country Championship in Poland, which recently concluded. Team Uganda had to "use the last batch" of the Puma kit that was saved from the 2012 London Olympics. When asked why Team Uganda had used Olympic kits, federation Secretary General Beatrice Ayikoru said, “It is going to hit us hard. These kits cost a fortune. Puma have also been helping us financially." It was "not yet clear" whether athletes like Moses Kipsiro and Benjamin Kiplagat, who have individual contracts with Puma will be affected (NEW VISION, 3/27).