Uganda Modern Pentathlon Federation sets roadmap for 2024
UMPF enjoyed a lot of success both locally and internationally in 2023.
President Simon Komakech (Seated on the left) and General Secretary Collin Ssemanda (right) alongside other delegates at the 5th General Assembly. PHOTO: Hope Ampurire
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
Uganda Modern Pentathlon Federation is one of the youngest sports federations in Uganda. It was started in 2017 and since then, it has been exploring several opportunities to keep the federation running.
During the fifth annual general assembly on Saturday, February 24, at the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) offices, delegates led by President Simon Komakech and General Secretary, Collins Ssemanda set a roadmap for 2024.
With a host of activities to be done this year, UMPF’s focus is on talent identification.
“Our emphasis is mainly on talent development in different schools that can afford the sport, this is due to our strategy to ensure that the sport is spread all over the country,” says General Secretary Collins Ssemanda.
“We also believe that the talent identified could make it to the 2026 youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal,” Ssemanda added.
UMPF enjoyed a lot of success both locally and internationally in 2023.
They participated in a Union Internationale de Pentathlon moderne (UIPM) sponsored pentathlon World Cup in March 2023 and the West African Laser Run/Biathle and Triathle in Ivory Coast in the under 11 and under 13 age groups.
For the Africa/Oceania championships in June, Cairo, and Alexandria in September 2023, Rashida Najjuma and Marshall Miiro grabbed their first bronze medals for Uganda.
“In terms of performance, we managed to realize 70% of what we had set out to do last year, both local and international competitions,” Ssemanda stated.
Uganda Modern Pentathlon will be taking part in the 2024 Pentathlon World Cup on February 29, in Cairo, Egypt and Ssemanda is calling upon athletes to improve their personal best.
“Athletes have to strive to ensure that they make their personal best going into the World Cup,” Ssemanda told Vision Sport.
“We know that they have to overcome certain challenges ahead of this global event such as not using the same equipment during these competitions, they are different from the ones they use for training back here home,” Ssemanda explained.
He also acknowledged that “As a federation, we have to focus on the acquisition of more equipment so that different athletes benefit and hence improve our performance,”.
Rashida Najjuma, Marshall Miiro, and Arnold Kisulo will represent Uganda at the 2024 Pentathlon World and it will be the second time Uganda is making an appearance at this global event.