Africa and Uganda’s reluctance and ineptitude to officially document its own records has had the management of the Uganda Book of Records hit the production line and hit the printing press, to come up with books that document not only sports records, but also others from other spheres of life.

The two books ‘Uganda Book of Records’ (UBR) and ‘Africa Book of Records’ will hit Uganda’s book stores and other stations/bookshops in Africa and across the world after an official launch during an ‘Africa Record Awards Ceremony’ that will be held in Kampala, two months from now.

Alex Kayima the UBR executive director and the brainchild behind the production of the books told a press conference held at Serena Hotel on Monday that his love for sports and the lack of documented records of the different Ugandan sportsmen inspired him into starting research in 2004 about the different records which he has now compiled into a 460-pages book that will be updated annually.

He was flanked by the Communications officer Shanice Naluwu, board member Joseph Kagoro and chief diversity secretary Robert Kigongo.

After 19 years of research and assessment the books that have been published in 12 international languages will hit the stores soon with all the known records that Ugandan sportsmen hold over different disciplines; athletics, boxing, football, and basketball among other genres like academics and medicine.

He said the reason for the many languages for the Africa Book of Records was to enable other people to learn about us through various distribution centres in Durban, Cairo, Nairobi, Lagos, Dakar and Accra.

UBR CEO Alex Kayima displays the books at Serena Hotel. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Who was the first Ugandan musician to win a Kora Award and or the first Ugandan standup comedian to get nominated for the Emmy Awards? All the answers to this and many others about Uganda and Africa records can be found in the compilations in the books which are published in the US and will cost $60 (sh220,000/-) and $70 (sh250,000/-) respectively.

“Most of the records have maybe been mentioned once in the various media platforms; but how about documenting or archiving them in a book so that people can read and learn about them for generations so that it can inspire many more?

“So this pushed us to start with our sportsmen that keep on hitting new milestones every day in various sports disciplines, like in athletics where Joshua Cheptegei holds various world records and other records by Roger Milla, Ibrahim Ssekagya, Magid Musisi, Ayub Kalule,  among others,” Kayima said.

“We have set off and officially Uganda and Africa have their own books of records and the records will no longer be kept under the beds, and we want to start rewarding record holders,” he added.

Kayima said the Uganda Book of Records also owns the Africa Book of Records that will be launched during a Uganda and Africa Record Awards gala that will attract a number of African football legends like Samuel Eto’o, Davis Kamoga, Roger Milla, Bryan Habana, David Rudisha among others.

“We are already in touch with most of these stars and we are only looking for extra support from the government and other sponsors to be able to bring all of them to Kampala,” Kayima stated.

Robert Kigongo the chief diversity secretary displays a copy of the books. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“By hosting the Africa Records Awards Ceremony, Uganda will reap in ways unmatched due to its uniqueness which garners international appeal."

He said a photo exhibition at Sharing Hall Nsambya sponsored by UNDP for the different record-holders will precede the awards gala where the recipients will receive certificates, medals and a free copy of the records book.

Some of the Ugandans that will receive awards during the gala include Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo, Kiprotich, Kipsiro with others like Majid Musisi getting their recognition posthumously.

He noted that patents such as the Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards, the Oscars, Ballon D’or, Cannes Film Festival, Miss Earth, Nobel Peace Prize, and the AIPS Sports Media Awards among others are owned and hosted by different countries that benefit from their world-wide appeal which the Uganda and Africa Book of Records Awards should emulate.

UBR board member Joseph Kagoro said the books and the awards gala will help in marketing the country worldwide but also help in documenting all the records because ‘no one else will do it for us’.

He called on all potential partners, government entities and corporate companies to join them in growing these annual awards and creating an African ‘content-pedia’.

UBR will also start events where people with different skills showcase and set their own records.