Overview:
There will be special recognitions to the other past and present legends who have raised Uganda’s flag on the continental and global stages. The guest list is expected to be rich with officials ranging from Uganda Athletics and other federations, Uganda Olympic Committee, National Council of Sports (NCS) and the central government.
Athletics Uganda has organized a mega fete to celebrate 100 years of existance.
The celebrations will be held this Saturday, 7th May 2025 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The annual Akii Bua memorial invitational meet shall be held, starting at 8 am with a number of international invitations for athletes from Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
For starters, Akii Bua is the legendary Ugandan athlete who won gold at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany when he set a world record in the men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 47.82.
John Akii-Bua is a national pride because he was the first athlete to open doors for gold medals in Uganda. He paved way for Uganda and Africa as a continent. There is no better figure to represent this celebration than Akii-Bua. His achievement took four decades to match, and that shows just how significant his legacy is to our country. So far, Uganda has five gold medals for only athletics, and he is a cornerstone of our legacy. Athletics is the golden sport of Uganda.
Dominic Otucet, president Uganda Athletics
The Akii Bua Memorial Invitational meet is now a bronze level event given the hefty $50,000 in total that will be distributed to the top performers on the day.
There are 10 events lined up on the day with sprints, medal distance and field activities (long jump, javelin and short put).
100M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, 5000M, 400M hurdles will be run for both genders.
International athletes invited include Kenya’s Sarah Mora (800M), Gebreham from Eritrea (1500M), South Sudanese Ayub Choul (long jump), Ethiopian Mora (5000M), Kenya’s Dorcus Chekwemoi (5000M), Juma Tyson and Babu Meshaki from Kenya (100M), South Sudan’s Deng (100M), Ethiopian Saidi Agesa (800M), among others.
These will compete with a variety of long athletes from Uganda as Harold Adoli (400M), Tom Dradiga (800M), Musa Isabirye (100M), Sam Kiprotich (1500M), Dan Kibet (5000M), Charles Okello (Long jump), Shida Leni (400M), Halima Nakaayi (800M), Sarah Chelangat (5000M), Josepin Lalam (Javelin), Prisca Anena (Discuss throw), Brian Onenchan (400M hurdles) and many others.
Close to 190 athletes will be in action for the different events on the day.
The elite runners will be joined by the kids fun races and the corporate 4X100m race.
The day’s activities commence as early as 8 am with the mass race.
There will be a cultural performance and march led by the Uganda Police Band.
The day-long celebration will blend competitive sport with tributes to Uganda’s rich athletic history.
Uganda Athletics will also honour the family of the legendary Akii-Bua.
There will be special recognitions to the other past and present legends who have raised Uganda’s flag on the continental and global stages.
The guest list is expected to be rich with officials ranging from Uganda Athletics and other federations, Uganda Olympic Committee, National Council of Sports (NCS) and the central government.
The chief guest will be announced in the coming days. Entry is free of charge for all.
This event is being sponsored by the Government through the National Council of Sports (NCS), Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), World Athletics, Next Media Services and global sports gear manufacturers, NIKE.
