It’s always a special moment and cause for pride to see one of your own represent your country, and it’s always a special moment especially when it happens where it's least expected.

It is for this matter, therefore, that the sports leaders and the entire region of Karamoja have reason to celebrate the returning pair of their own, Rajab Ibrahim Lomutho Timu and Dominic Klop Naido who made the Uganda team to France for the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) U-18 games.

The pair teamed with Fred Ambayo and Raymong Omara to win a bronze medal in the medley long relay at the games and on return from France on Monday, they were welcomed by an excited Richard Okot, the chairman of Karamoja games.

“I am extremely happy for these young men who have carried the Uganda flag and Karamoja name high in France. They are the pillar of our games (Karamoja games) and with them, we are going to make the objectives of the games realized, because they are going to encourage many more youths into coming out to realize their talents,” Okot said.

Having been formed in 2018 by the patriotic Karimojongs and launched in 2019 by the first lady and minister of education and sports Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Karamoja games are aimed at enhancing unity and talent search in Karamoja.

Karamoja Games bring together youths from all the nine districts of Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Abim, Napak, Moroto, Nabilatuk, Amudat, and Nakapiripirit to compete in five disciplines of athletics, football, netball, volleyball, and woodball.

The 3rd edition ended recently and Rajab Lomutho who hails from Napak district is the leading sprinter having won the 100m event while Klop who comes from Amudat district and captain of the Karamoja athletics team, holds the 5km gold.

Lomutho who holds the FEASSSA and national games 100m and 200m gold medals, was unsuccessful in the 100m and 400m attempts in France where he reached the finals but recovered well to run the 400m part of the medley relay to aid Uganda to the bronze while Klop who finished 5th in the ISF cross country in Slovakia last month, run the 600m part in France for Uganda’s bronze.

Okot says the two will now be the pillars of Karamoja sports to enable many more able sports talents to come out of the region.

The games are held during school holidays because of targeting schools going talents and also include the school dropouts who are being encouraged to go back to school.