Seven years on, Halima Nakaayi still waiting for promised presidential reward

When Halima Nakaayi stormed to Uganda’s first-ever 800m gold medal at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, she not only made history but also expected to receive a life-changing reward from the government.

Like other Ugandan athletes who had previously been rewarded, Nakaayi anticipated a house or a car in recognition of her achievement.

However, seven years later, the 2019 world champion is still waiting for the promised reward, raising questions about the government's commitment to honoring its pledges to outstanding athletes.

Her frustration is understandable, especially when compared to fellow athletes Joshua Cheptegei, Dorcus Inzikuru and Stephen Kiprotich, who received government rewards following their historic achievements on the global stage.

Nakaayi says she personally presented her request to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni during a meeting at State House, where she and other athletes were invited to present their medals.

“I got the opportunity to present my case to the President. I appreciated him for the support and for rewarding athletes. I also requested to be rewarded, as has been the case with previous champions. The President assigned Lucy Nakyobe, who confirmed that they would build a house for me and also buy me a car, which I am still waiting for,” Nakaayi said.

She adds that when she later engaged Nakyobe, she requested that Nakyobe put it in writing to provide clarity on the promised rewards.

However, the process has dragged on without a clear resolution.

Nakaayi says the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 disrupted plans, but she has continued to receive assurances that the matter would eventually be addressed.

“Things seemed to hit a hard rock when COVID-19 broke out in 2021, but I have always been promised that things would be handled. Up to date, I am still waiting,” she added.

However, former State House Comptroller Lucy Nakyobe has distanced herself from the alleged pledge, saying she has no knowledge of any commitment by the President to reward Nakaayi with a car or a house.

“For me, I know about three male athletes who were promised houses, and they were built, but in Nakaayi's case, personally, I have never heard about it,” Nakyobe said.

Former State Minister for Sports Hamson Obua, however, says the presidential reward programme was limited to athletes who won medals at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and All-Africa Games.

Uganda Athletics Federation president Dominic Otucet, meanwhile, expressed concern that Nakaayi had not received any reward despite her historic achievement.

“I am concerned that she got nothing. When the government again rewarded the 2021 Tokyo Olympics winners, she missed out. As a federation, we are following up on all athletes whom the government promised rewards but who have never received them,” Otucet said.

For Nakaayi, the concern goes beyond the material value of a house or a car. It is also about recognition and fulfilling commitments made to athletes who put Uganda on the global sporting map.

Her 2019 triumph remains one of the country's landmark achievements in athletics. She became the first Ugandan woman to win a World Athletics Championships gold medal, defeating a strong field to claim the 800m title in Doha.

While her name remains etched in Uganda's sporting history, the reward she expected to accompany that achievement remains outstanding.