Following failed plans to have the team in residential camp for about six weeks due to financial constraints, Uganda Athletics will now hold a shortened training camp in Bukwo and Hoima before departing for Glasgow on July 24 for the Commonwealth Games.
Speaking to the press at Uganda Christian University on Saturday, June 27, Uganda Athletics president Dominic Otucet revealed that the federation is facing significant financial challenges despite the country’s continued international success.
“As our athletes continue to shine internationally, we are heavily challenged financially. When we took the team to the World Cross Country Championships, where we scooped a record seven medals, we used extra funds from our budget due to several issues,” Otucet said.
Despite the recent success in Florida, USA, Uganda Athletics is struggling to sustain preparations for upcoming competitions.
“As we still have a long schedule ahead, those extra expenses constrained us financially, leading us to cancel some grassroots programmes. We had planned to have the team in camp for six weeks, but we failed to achieve that because of financial constraints. Ugandans are rallying behind us with hopes of winning medals, yet we have not had adequate money for preparations,” he added.
The national team is expected to enter camp on Monday, June 29. Middle and long-distance athletes will train in Bukwo at the Arua Athletics Club camp, while sprinters will head to Hoima to utilize the tartan track.
The relocation of the camps has been prompted by the full closure of Namboole Stadium.
“The closure of Namboole has brought a huge setback to our preparations, but it would not be as severe if we had sufficient finances. As we wait for government support, I call upon corporate companies to step up and support athletics during this difficult period,” Otucet noted.
Uganda Athletics is planning to send a team of 17 athletes, comprising eight women and nine men, to the Commonwealth Games.
Harold Adoli and Kenneth Omuka will compete in the men’s 400 metres and will also team up with female sprinters Shida Leni and Maureen Banura in the mixed relay.
The middle-distance squad includes Halima Nakaayi in the women’s 800 metres, Knight Aciru in the 1,500 metres and Peruth Chemutai in the 3,000 metres steeplechase. Chemutai remains Uganda’s only returning athletics medallist from the 2022 edition.
On the men’s side, Oscar Chelimo, Dan Kibet, Dominic Krop and Kenneth Kiprop will compete in the men’s 5,000 metres.
The women’s long-distance team comprises Joy Cheptoek, Rebecca Chelangat and Esther Chebet, while Herbert Kibet and Silas Chemutai will represent Uganda in the men’s category.
The team will be guided by five technical officials led by Paul Okello, with Susan Laker serving as the female coach, as preparations intensify for the Games scheduled from July 27 to early August.
At the last Commonwealth Games in 2022, athletics was the only sport to deliver gold medals for Uganda, accounting for four of the country’s five medals.
Victor Kiplangat won marathon gold, Jacob Kiplimo completed a memorable distance double by winning both the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres, while Peruth Chemutai secured bronze in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase.
