Uganda will vie to post the highest medal tally when they host the Eastern Africa Youth Championships this weekend at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. Being hosts, Uganda will field 40 athletes though only two will score points at the event. Seven of the athletes in camp at Lugogo were selected from the recent Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships which were held in Mbarara.
Uganda managed six gold in the last edition which was hosted by Eritrea in Asmara, with 400m and 800m athletes picking two gold and a silver in the process. Nancy
Cheptegei also did well two years ago but the ages do not permit them in to feature in the tourney. But the team will entirely build on home advantage and knowing that there are World Junior Championships in Barcelona, the young daring athletes will poise respectable results.
Team coach, Gordon Ahimbisibwe says the team is well prepared to do the expected. National Talent Development Coordinator, George Palandu is the side’s team manager. Five other teams have confirmed to take part including Kenya, Tanzania, Djibouti and Ethiopia.