Overview:
This Saturday, 7th June 2025, Athletics Uganda is celebrating 100 years of existence since inception. The famous Akii Bua memorial invitational meet, now a bronze level event as certified by World Athletes will also take place at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
As far back as 1972, a former senior Police officer John Akii Bua set the Munich Olympics ablaze when he ran 47.82 seconds to set a world record then in the 400M hurdles’ race.
This was Uganda’s first ever gold medal at the Olympics, a national record that still stands to date.
Having finished 4th in 1970 Commonwealth Games, Akii Bua came into the 1972 Olympics with virtually little experience.
He easily beat all challengers including the favourite, Great Britain’s David Hemery and America’s Ralph Mann by an emphatic improvement of the World Record to 47.82 on top of becoming the first athlete to dip under 48.0.
Like fate would dictate, he however failed to defend the world title after Uganda and other countries withdrawal from the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
This Saturday, 7th June 2025, Uganda Athletics is celebrating 100 years of existence since inception.
The famous Akii Bua memorial invitational meet, now a bronze level event as certified by World Athletes will also take place at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
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
A number of top local and international athletes are lined up for various events as they target the total kitty of $50,000 in the pouch.
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.
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.
As early as 8 am, there will be a mass race. The day’s menu as has a kid’s and corporate event.
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 family of Akii Bua will also be recognized. Already, a great daughter Godwin Adongo Harambee is doing wonders.
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.
