UPDATES: Kapchorwa eager to receive its Olympic heroes

OLYMPICS

Live presentation by Joseph Kizza and live updates by Paul Watala

(Scroll down the page for earlier updates)

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3:13pm  |   In case you missed it

The trio of Cheptegei, Chemutai and Kiplimo created a series of Ugandan Olympic history while competing in Tokyo.

To begin with, Cheptegei and Kiplimo's two-three finish in the men's 10,000m on the opening day of the athletics schedule was the first time Uganda appeared on the same podium in any Olympics event.

Read the story HERE.

Chemutai then joined the history-making galore by becoming the first Ugandan female to get an Olympic medal by taking 3,000m steeplechase gold, before Cheptegei finally got his hands on the coveted gold medal in the men's 5,000m.

HERE you go.

A remarkable performance in Tokyo buoyed Uganda up to the dizzying second spot on the African medals table, behind East African neighbour Kenya.

Read the roundup HERE.

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2:30pm  |   I am grateful - Cheptegei

Cheptegei became the first Ugandan to win two medals at the same Olympics - and he, by his own admission, has been "savoring the warm reception" accorded to him and his teammates.

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1:48pm  |   #RunWithCheptegei

By the way, world champion Cheptegei is in a race to complete the Joshua Cheptegei Training Centre in Kapchorwa district. To achieve this, the sensational distance runner launched a 100-day campaign dubbed #RunWithCheptegei aimed at raising $500,000 (sh1.7b).

Sheila Nduhukire, the principal PRO of National Medical Stores, relished a photo op with the star athlete, and urged the public to support the cause.

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1:16pm  |   'We are eager to receive our heroes'

Julius Chelimo, a boda boda rider in Kapchorwa, said he and his colleagues were eager to welcome their heroes. "We have heard that our heroes are coming today. We are so happy about them - what they have done to the country."

Chelimo shares a name with Oscar Chelimo, Kiplimo's brother, who raced in the men's 5,000m final in Tokyo.

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1:07pm  |   Let us go bigger - Rukare

Meanwhile, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) president Donald Rukare has underlined the need to bolster the capacity of sports federations so as to produce more athletes that can perform at the top level.

Rukare highlighted this at Kololo while giving his report on the performance of Team Uganda at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“The team to Tokyo has given a good account of itself. We believe that we are now ready to ascend to the highest level of sporting platform in Uganda. We have a number of games coming up, like the Commonwealth Games - Birmingham 2022, Africa Games in Ghana (2023), and Olympic Games in France (2024),” he said.

Read the details in Michael Nsubuga's story HERE.

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12:50pm  |   A massive reward for 'big strides'

Ahead of their journey back home later today, it has been a busy morning for Cheptegei and co, who have been engaged in corporate activities.

Telecom giant MTN Uganda has rewarded the entire team that represented Uganda in Tokyo with what it has called a performance total sum of sh175.5m. This for the entire contingent - 17 athletes, five coaches and three administrators.

Calling the gesture a token of appreciation for the entire team, Wim Vanhelleputte, the MTN Uganda CEO, said: "The performance of our athletes is a demonstration of growth for Ugandan athletics. They achieved both as individuals and as a team comprising the coaches and support staff."

He saluted the "big strides the sport is making, and we remain committed to facilitating the progress and success of Ugandan athletics through our partnership with the federation".

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12:25pm  |   'Sports publicises the country'

The team that represented Uganda in Tokyo at a Summer Olympics delayed for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic has been collectively hailed for making history. At four medals (two gold, one silver and one bronze), this was the first time a Ugandan Olympic team produced more than two medals at the same Olympic Games.

Of course amid the excitement, the medallists - Cheptegei, Chemutai and Kiplimo - soaked up the most praise for their individual achievements in Japan's capital.

After arriving back home at the beginning of this week, President Yoweri Museveni congratulated the trio for "bringing us so much pride, happiness, and success at the Olympic Games" at a homecoming event held at Kololo Independence Grounds on Wednesday.

"Sports publicizes the country, I am happy you 'twinned' sports with tourism. Keitapon!" said the President.

The three medallists each received a vehicle as a reward from the Government and promised a monthly salary, with the President making an emphatic reminder to have medallists paid every month - including the arrears.

"I made an order in 2013 that anybody who wins gold at a continental level, commonwealth, or Olympics be paid sh5m per month, sh3m and sh1m for silver and bronze. I am told they are being paid quarterly. I speak English very well, let their money be paid, even the arrears.

"And for giving us such great talent, the parents of the gold medalists will be appreciated too. The government will build houses for them."

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11:45am  |   'Home of friends'

It has just been brought to my atttention that Kapchorwa, which lies about 65 kilometres northeast of Mbale (if you are travelling by road), means 'home of friends'.

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11:22am  |   A pictorial view of Kapchorwa

At nearly 2,000m above sea level, Kapchorwa is a geographically elavated district in eastern Uganda. Over the last decade, this area of Sebei sub-region has seen its status elevated by the world-class athletes it has produced, including 2012 Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich and multi-world record holder Joshua Cheptegei.

The likes of 2010 Commonwealth Games double champion Moses Kipsiro and reigning women's 3,000m steeplechase Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai hail from Bukwo district, which was carved out of Kapchorwa in mid-2000.

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11:07am  |   Focus turns to the east

All roads are leading to Sebei sub-region today.

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10:56am  |   A heroic return

On top of being the current 5,000m and 10,000m world recorder, Joshua Cheptegei is also the reigning men's 5,000m Olympic champion, only recently enthroned as the king of that event at the Tokyo Olympic Games that concluded last Sunday in Japan's capital. Also crowned was Peruth Chemutai, who is the women's 3,000m steeplechase Olympic champion, having won gold in scintillating fashion to create her own piece of history. Another Ugandan who bagged a medal is Jacob Kiplimo - he finished third in the men's 10,000m final to take home bronze, behind compatriot Cheptegei, who secured silver in that race.

Having since returned home (Uganda) as heroes with the rest of the Team Uganda members, the trio are today set to go back to their birth place for yet another heroic homecoming there, where the people there are eagerly waiting to receive their young heroes.

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10:53am  |   Hello and good morning

It is a warm Friday morning here in Uganda's capital Kampala and in Kapchorwa, the home of the fastest man on Earth in the 5,000m and 10,000m, Joshua Cheptegei.