Three-gold medalist Marvelous Orishaba eyes national elite team

Middle-distance runner Marvelous Orishaba is setting her sights on a brighter future after a stellar performance at the East African Community University Games held last month in Kisumu, Kenya.

The 23-year-old returned as a champion, clinching three gold medals in all her events at the games hosted by Maseno University.

Orishaba excelled in her favourite 800m and 1500m races, clocking impressive times of 2:07 and 4:29, respectively. She then triumphed in the 5000m with a time of 17:10 in her first competitive attempt at the distance.

“I feel very happy and encouraged after winning three races. It was my first time achieving triple gold in my career. The competition at Maseno wasn’t easy, but my training and fitness gave me confidence to push through against any challenge,” Orishaba shared.

In both the 800m and 1500m, she outpaced her closest rival, Kampala University’s Priscilla Akello. Her three gold medals significantly contributed to Ndejje University’s dominance at the games.

Aiming for National and International Glory

As a final-year student at Ndejje University, where she is pursuing a degree in Social Work and Social Sciences on a sports scholarship, Orishaba is focused on transitioning to the national elite team.

“My last university competition will be at the World University Games in Germany, where I aim to perform at my best. My ultimate goal is to join the national team and represent Uganda at major international events like the 2028 Olympics,” she said.

Although the 800m and 1500m are her signature events, Orishaba is considering specializing in the 5000m after completing her studies, as she currently finds it her favorite distance.

A Promising Journey

Born in Rubanda district, Kigezi, Orishaba discovered her talent early in Primary 5 under the guidance of coach Innocent Munyambabazi. She honed her skills at Global High Omungyenyi and Ntungamo district, where she consistently secured silver and bronze medals in 800m and 1500m events during Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Association (USSSA) competitions.

Her hard work and dedication earned her a sports scholarship at Ndejje University, where she has continued to grow as a promising middle-distance runner.

With her sights set on international success, Orishaba is ready to take her career to the next level, aspiring to make Uganda proud on the global stage.