Kagimu crowned best male cyclist in East Africa

Ugandan cyclist Charles Kagimu has been crowned Best Male Cyclist in East Africa at the Africa Cycling Excellence Awards held in Kigali, Rwanda.

On the continental stage, Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay and Mauritius’ Kimberley Le Court claimed the awards for Best Male and Best Female Cyclist in Africa, while Eritrea was voted the continent’s top cycling nation.

Other notable winners included Burkina Faso’s Paul Daumont, recognised as Best Amateur Cyclist, and Burundi’s Odette Nsengiyumva, who took home the award for Best Female Cyclist in East Africa.

Kagimu, who began his cycling journey in 2014, outshone more than 100 elite riders from across the region, earning the accolade through a string of outstanding performances in recent continental competitions.

He recently secured a brand-new Time Trial bike from France, courtesy of government support, an important boost to his equipment arsenal ahead of the 2026 season.

This comes after a challenging year in which an unreliable road race bike prevented him from defending his African Time Trial Championship title.

With his eyes firmly set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Kagimu remains optimistic. “It’s really tough, but I know I’m going to make it with the support system around me,” he said.

Kagimu is one of seven Ugandan athletes awarded the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Scholarship by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC).

“A back-to-back Olympic qualification would be the perfect return on the investment being made in me, alongside the intentional support from my management team,” he added.