The Ugandan Sportsmen who participated at the 2018 Commonwealth games in Australia have been rewarded.
The Athletes received a total cash prize of Shs. 100M from the National Council of Sports (NCS) on Tuesday afternoon.
All the five medalists walked away with their share during a function held at copper Chimney Resturant in Lugogo , Kampala.
Double Gold medal winner Joshua Cheptegei (men 5000 and 10,000 metres’ races), female gold medallist Stellah Chesang (10,000 metres), silver medal winner Solomon Mutai Munyo (Marathon) as well as the bronze duo of Mercyline Chelengat (women 10,000 metres) and Juma Miiro (Light Fly(Boxing)) were all rewarded for their sweat.
Cheptegei pocketed a lion’s share of the money with Shs. 50M,Chesang was rewarded with Shs. 20M, Mutai got Shs. 15M as the bronze medalists Chelengat and Miiro each got Shs. 7.5M.
NCS chairman Bosco Onyik accompanied by the board members and three of the federation heads (Boxing, Athletics and Basketball) handed over the money to the athletes.
Onyik praised the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his open interest in the development of sports in Uganda.
He also singled out the sports minster, Janet Museveni, state sports minister Charles Bakabulindi, NCS members and staff, UOC president William Blick and his working team, the national organizing committee, UAF, UBF, media, players as well as all managers of teams.
Onyik also hinted on NCS’ initiative of further developing sports in the country;
“We are eyeing the improvement of sports facilities in Uganda, said Onyik.
” Also, NCS has tripled the budget to national sports federations.
“We are proud and happy as National Council of Sports (NCS) for this offer, continued Onyik.
“We shall continue to perform well and improve on fitness levels and also ask God to continue giving us favour.
“Lastly, we thank the Government of Uganda especially the President, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the Ministry of Education and Sports through the Minister, Janet Kataha Museveni, for their continued support towards the development of sport in the counrty.
Acting secretary general Bernard Patrick Ogwel, Zubair Ggaliwango, David Semakula Katende are some of the other NCS officials who attended the brief ceremony.
Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) President Dominic Otuchet, Boxing federation boss Moses Muhangi and Basketball head Ambrose Tashobya also attended.
The athletes were later treated to a luncheon at Café Javas, Kamwokya.
How the CommonWealth medalists were rewarded:
- Joshua Cheptegei – Shs 50M
- Stellah Chesang – Shs 20M
- Solomon Mutai Munyo – Shs 15M
- Mercyline Chelengat – Shs 7.5M
- Miiro Juma – Shs 7.5M
