In a unique move, Joshua Cheptegei and Victor Kiplangat were unanimously voted the joint winners of the Uganda Sports Press Association Nile Special Sports Personalities for August.
Cheptegei successfully defended his 10,000m World title at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary, becoming the first Ugandan to win and protect a World title twice.
Kiplangat became the second Ugandan to win the Marathon World title by triumphing in the 42km race in Budapest last month. Stephen Kiprotich was the first.
In second position was the Cricket Cranes, who retained the East Africa T20 Cup in Kigali, Rwanda. They won 11 out of 12 games played against Rwanda and Tanzania.
Other commendations included Jacob Sande winning bronze in the 1500m at the Common Wealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, clocking a time of 3:37.66.
Not forgetting Victor Cherotich who also secured bronze in the 3000m Steeplechase at the same games with a time of 8:19.31.
The last on the list was the Uganda Scrabble team, which finished second in the PANASA Championship in Nigeria.
Led by Richard Geria and Edgar Odongkara’s extraordinary performance, Uganda ranked fifth and sixth out of 124 players.
She Cranes coach Mugerwa appreciated
The Uganda Netball national team, the She Cranes coach Fred Mugerwa, won the Supportive Award for guiding Uganda to fifth place at the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Mugerwa received 295 votes, outsmarting Athletics coach Benjamin Njia, who polled 265. Njia is the name behind Uganda’s running success.
Still about winning, 14-year-old badminton player Eric Ofoyuru was awarded the Promising Young Talent Award with 225 votes.
He claimed gold in the U16 singles at the East Africa Secondary Schools Games in Rwanda.
He finished as runner-up in the U19 category and reached the semifinals in the U17 category.
His performances elevated his school, Kakungulu Memorial, to a silver medal at the same games.
Additionally, Professor Badru Kateregga of Kampala University received the Sporting Award. His immense contribution to sports has enriched the careers of athletes and teams.
USPA members were also educated on how the new National Sports ACT 2023 will impact their work, positively or negatively, with insights provided by FUFA Legal Director Denis Lukambi.
Courtesy Photos
