Canada blocks Ugandan kayakers
Sporting organizers dismiss worries that foursome will try to stay here
Leaders of Canada’s kayak and canoeing communities have joined forces to get federal immigration officials to lift a ban on a Ugandan team due to take part in the World Freestyle Kayaking Championships on the Ottawa River later this month.
According to documents obtained by the Citizen, the Canadian officials, based in Nairobi, Kenya, have twice rejected visa applications from the four athletes over concerns they won’t return home.
The documents also suggest that the officials consider the reasons for the quartet’s proposed visit to Canada as unclear despite supporting documentation from canoe and kayaking and other organizations clearly stating the purpose.
In one letter supporting the visa applications, CanoeKayak Canada urges the Canada Visa Application Centre to allow the Ugandans to attend the championships.
“We are disappointed to hear through our friends in Uganda that their freestyle team’s visa applications have been denied. This is an international event and participation from all countries that wish to compete is imperative in assuring a high level of completion. Furthermore, it is an opportunity for countries to unite in celebration of sport while putting aside political and cultural differences.
“Your efforts will go a long way in upholding Canada’s highly regarded reputation as an international sports host.”
Supporters of the four Ugandans say they have ample funds following a months-long fundraising effort on social media, and compelling reasons to return home, including jobs, family and land holdings.
The world championships will be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 5 near Beachburg, northwest of Ottawa. The International Canoe Association sanctions and hosts the event, which will also be observed by Olympic officials.
The Ugandans are among 27 teams registered for the competition.
“We’ve raised close to $14,000,” Ugandan team coach Sam Ward told the Citizen on Wednesday. “Accommodation is free for competitors at the site and we’ve got enough money to look after their needs.
“We’ve tackled the fundraising and went over our target,” added Ward, “but our problem now is convincing Canadian immigration, and perhaps we’re not doing a good enough job of that.”
Ward, a British citizen and former coach of the British freestyle kayaking team, is already in the Beachburg area waiting for his team.
Each visa application costs more than $200 per person and applications have already cost the team $1,800. A fifth kayaker on the first round of applications dropped out.
A third attempt means the athletes have to start the entire application process again — and pay again.
“It’s a bit puzzling and very frustrating,” said Ward. “If we could just talk to somebody and say, ‘Tell us what you want’, but we can’t. It’s just the rejection letter. It seems like we’ve covered all the bases and then we get rejected.
“They are all self-made heroes already within Uganda, starting from very lowly beginnings, and are now established and well respected members of their communities,” he said, “They have spent the last year working toward the opportunity to represent their nation.”
Robert Zwanenburg, chair of the Canadian Freestyle Kayaking Committee, said he and others in the kayaking and canoeing community are now trying to get some direction from Citizenship and Immigration.
“There is always going to be a concern, particularly with people from developing countries,” he said. “But a lot of people here have stepped up to the plate and offered to help them out. If we have to do a third application, I’m certainly willing to put my name forward as a personal sponsor.”
Citizenship and Immigration refused to comment on the case, citing privacy considerations.
This is the third time the world championships have been held in Canada and, according to organizers, there has never been a defection of a competitor.
The Ugandan team is based at Jinja on the shore of Lake Victoria, near the source of the White Nile. The area is a popular training spot and attracts freestyle kayakers from across the globe.
Those visits have forged relationships between the Ugandans and the international kayaking fraternity.
The Ugandan team, considered excellent kayakers in need of exposure to international competition, was selected from 30 national competitors.
Teams are already arriving and starting to practise ahead of the championships.
Freestyle kayaking — sometimes referred to as the gymnastics of kayaking — was an exhibition sport at the London Olympic Games in 2012 and is working its way toward full recognition by the International Olympic Committee.
Besides Uganda, registered teams are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United States and Ukraine.
Organizers say they are unaware of athletes from any other country being refused visas.
More information on the world championships, go to
Watch the Ugandan team’s fundraising video at youtube.com/ watch?v=OoPp0KGuYtY.