Over 300 athletes set for 24th Akii-Bua Memorial Championships at UCU Mukono

More than 300 athletes are expected to converge at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono on Saturday, July 13, for the 24th edition of the Akii-Bua Memorial Championships, one of Uganda's most prestigious athletics competitions.

Named in honor of Uganda’s first Olympic gold medalist, John Akii-Bua, the annual championship continues to play a vital role in the development of athletics in the country by providing a platform for athletes to assess their performance levels and prepare for future competitions.

This year’s event will feature a variety of track and field disciplines, including the 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, and 5,000m races, as well as field events such as the long jump, shot put, discus, and javelin.

Unlike previous editions, however, the 2026 championship is expected to attract fewer elite and international athletes. Last year's event drew considerable foreign participation, Kenyan sprinters who significantly boosted the profile of the competition.

According to Uganda Athletics President Dominic Otucet, the absence of international athletes this year is largely due to the nature of the competition and the facilities being used.

“This year we are using a cinder track rather than a tartan track. In addition, the prize money is not as much as it was last year. This championship is not invitational; it is open to all athletes who wish to compete,” Otucet explained.

The anticipated reduction in elite participation also comes after the closure of qualification windows for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Many athletes have already secured qualification standards or shifted their focus to other major competitions, reducing the incentive to compete at the Akii-Bua Memorial Championships.

Despite this, Otucet remains optimistic about athlete turnout.

“Since the fourth national trial, we have not had any major track and field competition, so we expect many athletes to participate. However, some athletes register and fail to turn up. I want to discourage that practice and encourage athletes to honor their registrations,” he said.

The championships will be staged at UCU's athletics facility, which currently does not meet World Athletics certification requirements. Consequently, performances recorded at the event will not count towards qualification standards for major international championships.

Akii Bua engraved his name into history at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games when he won gold in the 400m hurdles becoming the first Ugandan to win an Olympic gold medal.

The championship will serve not only as a competition but also as a celebration of the life and enduring legacy of the man who put Uganda on the global athletics map.