A 26-member team is being sent from the National Council of Sports headquarters in Lugogo to Florida, United States, to compete in the World Cross Country on January 10.
National Council of Sports Secretary General Dr. Patrick Bernard Ogwel, bidding farewell to the team on Monday, January 5, in Lugogo, urged the runners to further set the stage with maximum efforts for the race.
“The sport of athletics is a blessing to Uganda. I am fortunate that God has kept me to witness Ugandans becoming world champions, and I hope I am still counting.
It is with this spirit that I send you with high hopes on behalf of the government and Ugandans that you will give us victories. Let us congratulate the winners of distinction, and may it be for you.
This is the first team to leave Uganda in 2026, and with its victories, I promise that at the end, they will be welcomed back by the President at the State House. We are still trying to increase the rewards we give to the best performers. This time, each gold medal will be rewarded with 100 million Uganda shillings, and each silver medal with 50 million. I believe the entire team will return as heroes.”
At the last World Cross Country in Belgrade, Serbia, Uganda won five medals, including four team medals and an individual medal won by Jacob Kiplimo, who won the 10km.
