Nile Special USPA Awards (2019):
- Overall Top Sports Personality: Joshua Cheptegei
- Fans’ choice Award: Joshua Cheptegei
- Male Athlete of the year: Joshua Cheptegei
- Legendary Awards winner: Neko Muduse Ojara
It was pop and style as the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) successfully held the 2019 glamorous awards gala exclusively sponsored by Nile Special at the spacious Victoria Ballroom of Kampala Serena Hotel on Wednesday, 18th November 2020.
The current 10,000M and 5000M world record holder Joshua Cheptegei was for the second year running crowned as the overall sportsman, albeit in absentia during an event where winners hand-picked accolades from the podium, a style of the new normal to mitigate the spread of the highly contagious Coronavirus.
Cheptegei won three awards on the night, including the overall accolade, best male athlete and the fans’ choice award at a time USPA was also celebrating 50 years of existence.
The Master of Ceremony Mark Ssali read out his name firmly much to the applause of the guests on an evening decimated by electoral related riots in the capital city, Kampala and a couple of other towns.
Represented by the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) president, Cheptegei easily toppled Halima Nakaayi (best female athlete) and Emmanuel Arnold Okwi (best footballer) for the overall as well as fans’ choice categories respectively.
With the legendary and age-less Afrigo Band providing the entertainment all evening round in an event where constant sanitizing and wearing of face masks was emphasized, athletes plus special guests dinned and wined on tables spaciously placed between each other.
Best female athlete Nakaayi delivered a moving speech, recounting the bold testimony where hard work has propelled her to success thus far.
I thank the Almighty God for enabling us gather us. Success is a gradual process and by choice. Always, It has been a journey. I started at a young age. My dad did not first give me a go ahead while my mother encouraged. I got a bursary from Primary four until I completed my degree because of sports. Success is by choice, not matter where you come from, the size and tribe. I keep training and people keep shouting at me who will marry me, what am I chasing and the like but such comments do not discourage me. One day, I was declared dead during a championship at Bombo but I did not lose focus.
Halima Nakaayi, best female athlete
A cake to celebrate the silver jubilee of this sports body was cut and served to all the guests.
In his remarks, USPA president Patrick Kanyomozi lauded the past USPA leadership, sponsors and partners, sportsmen and everyone who has done has part despite the Coronavirus pandemic that ravaged sport for the better part of 2020.
He urged the Government to consider the development of sports facilities, a vivid feat that grows the sector and consequently the sports media wing.
The Coronavirus pandemic affected our personal and professional lives. As we embrace the new normal in the midst of the pandemic. We strive for the growth of the sports sector. If it grows we also grow. At this point, I appeal to Government to help in the development of sports amenities and facilities in Uganda. We thank our sponsors and partners as Nile Special, Standard Chartered Bank, Pepsi, NSSF and City Tyres. We also thank the French Embassy in Kampala. We have not been able to have several sportsmen and invited guests because of the situation in the country (security) and a few other personal commitments.
Patrick Kanyomozi, President Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA)
Dr. Donald Rukare, the Chairman of the National Council of Sports (NCS) congratulated all the nominees and eventual winners for the effort undertaken.
Rukare. a lawyer by profession urged USPA to a forge a formal working relation with the NCS for better service delivery.
I congratulate all the nominees and winners, you are all winners. With the vaccine being worked upon, It is our hope that we can co-exist with COVID-19. I urge USPA to come up with a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with National Council of Sports (NCS) to better the working relations.
Donald Rukare, Chairman National Council of Sports (NCS)
Francis Nyende, Nile Special Brand Manager hinted to the bold fact that sports is a great tool of effective representation for the country and therefore should be taken seriously.
He vowed for continuous harmonious coordinal partnership with USPA going forward.
All sports disciplines, you are great ambassadors of this country. 2020 has been very challenging because of COVID-19. We are bracing ourselves for a great 2021 with or without COVID-19. This is an amazing event. Thank you USPA executive and your team. I congratulate you for reaching 50 years. This is not a mean feat. This is 50 years of celebrating Uganda’s sportsmen. We have had a great partnership that spans over 10 years. We want to see USPA prosper beyond 50 years and possibly another 100 years.
Francis Nyende, Nile Special Brand Manager
One of the winners on the night, Daniel Muhigo, the best badminton male player called for a cash reward to be added to the plaque for the different winners.
“I am grateful for this award. It is not the first and the last. The first time I won this award was in 2012. I had injuries in between and I am back. When your heart is big, you win. I humbly request such awards come with some cash” Muhigo pointed.
Neko Muduse Ojara, a god father in the volleyball sport was named the legendary award winner.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) emerged as the best run sports federation.
The 2019 Uganda Golf Open series held at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf and Spa Resort was best organized sports event as the Uganda U-17 girls football team was outstanding team of the year.
USPA will at the end of this month engage in a peaceful electoral process in a democratic setting to determine the new executive.
Kanyomozi is tipped to retain his seat for another two year term.
All Winners (2019)
Athletics:
- Men: Joshua Cheptegei
- Women: Halima Nakaayi
Badminton:
- Men: Daniel Muhigo
- Women: Aisha Nakiyemba
Body Building:
- Isaac Mubikirwa
Boxing:
- David Ssemujju
Chess:
- Male: Harold Wanyama
- Female: Maria Nakanyike
Cricketers:
- Men: Shazad Kamal
- Female: Janet Mbabazi
Football:
- Men: Emmanuel Arnold Okwi
- Female: Juliet Nalukenge
Darts:
- Men: Patrick Ochieng
- Women: Sarah Makanga
Ludo:
- Tom Kasozi
Kickboxing:
- Patricia Apolot
Woodball:
- Men: Brian Gwaaka
- Women: Denise Nanjeru
Weight-lifting:
- Zubair Kubo
Handball:
- Men: Ibrahim Kongo
- Women: Lillian Achola
Rugby:
- Men: Pius Ogena
- Women: Samiya Iyikoru
Volleyball:
- Men: Daudi Okello
- Women: Grace Akiror
Netball:
- Stellah Oyella
Motocross:
- Gift Ssebuguzi (11 Years Old)
Motor-rally crew:
- Yasin Nasser & Ali Katumba
Tennis:
- Troy Zziwa
Swimming:
- Men: Tendo Mukalazi
- Women: Kirabo Namutebi
Squash:
- Ian Rukunya
Hockey:
- Men: Emmanual Baguma
- Female: Norah Alum
Golfers:
- Men: Joseph Cwinyaii
- Female: Martha Babirye
Basketball:
- Men: James Okello
- Female: Hope Akello
Pool:
- Men: Ibrah Ssejjemba
- Women: Zaimat Nambafu
Table Tennis: Rita Nakhumitsa
Best Organized Sports Events in 2019:
- 2019 Uganda Golf Championship at Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Team of Year, 2019:
- Uganda U-17 Girls Team
Overall Sports Personality of 2019
- Joshua Cheptegei
Legendary Award Winner: Neko Muduse Ojara
