6th Islamic Solidarity Games: Uganda Athletics team ready to compete in Riyadh

The Uganda Athletics Team at the 6th edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games is quickly acclimatizing to the hot weather conditions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The seventeen-athlete team checked into the games village on Friday morning and has since conducted a couple of training sessions at the Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University students’ sports complex.

The team is comprised of middle and long distance runners as well as those in the field events.

This is the largest number of athletes in the competition, which has 10 women and 7 men going for the medal hunt.

The ten women on the team include Shida Leni, Mauren Akiiki Banura, Malvin Akwenyi, Halima Nakaayi, Knight Aciru, Charity Cherop, Risper Cherop, Rebecca Chelangat, Annet Chelangat Chemengich and Joyce Josephine Lalam (Javelin).

The men on the team include Haron Adoli, Kenneth Omuka, Godfrey Chanwengo, Tom Dradriga, Leonard Chemutai, Samuel Simba Cherop and Abel Chebet.

“The team is ready to compete. We are now doing the polishing as we prepare for the action effective Monday, 17th November 2025,” Halima Nakaayi, an 800m medalist at the fourth edition in Azerbaijan, spoke.

Officials:

This team is under four officials, Muhammed Abdallah, Shaban Aluwa, Ali Ngaimoko and Aber Lucy Okumu.

Athletics will take place at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium.

The Athletics team comes into the games seeking their first gold medal and to improve on the 4 medals they have so far.

In the inaugural edition that took place in Mecca and Medina in 2005,

Boniface Kiprop earned Uganda a bronze medal in the 10,000m (28:46.27).

In the 4^th edition, which was hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, Halima Nakaayi won a silver medal in the 800m (2:01.60).

During the 5^th Edition hosted in Konya, Turkey, Abel Chebet earned Uganda two medals, a silver in 10,000m (28:31.39) and a Bronze in 5000m (13:54.93).

Chebet comes to Riyadh with the intent to improve on his tally of medals as the most successful athlete at the Islamic Solidarity Games.

Uganda Athletics Team composition:

Athletes:

Women:

1. Shida Leni – 400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
2. Banura Mauren Akiiki – 400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
3. Akwenyi Malvin – 400m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
4. Halima Nakaayi – 800m and 4 x 400m Mixed Relay
5. Aciru Knight – 1500m
6. Cherop Charity – 5000m
7. Cherop Risper – 5000m
8. Chelangat Rebecca – 10,000m
9. Chelangat Annet Chemengich – 10,000m
10. Lalam Josephine Joyce – Javelin

Men

1. Adoli Haron – 400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
2. Omuka Kenneth – 400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
3. Chanwengo Godfrey – 400m and 4 x400m Mixed Relay
4. Dradriga Tom – 800m
5. Chemutai Leonard – Steeple Chase
6. Cherop Samuel Simba – 5000m
7. Chebet Abel – 10,000m

Officials

1. Abdallah Muhammed
2. Aluwa Shaban
3. Ali Ngaimoko
4. Aber Lucy Okumu