Uganda sends four athletes to World Relays in Botswana

A team of four athletes, two male and two female, will represent Uganda at the 2026 World Athletics Relays scheduled for May 2–3 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Relays are among the most thrilling events in athletics, where teamwork meets raw speed.

Countries field their fastest sprinters to compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m races, events that often produce dramatic finishes and national pride.

This year, Uganda will compete in the 4x400m relay, marking its second consecutive appearance following its debut at the 2025 championships in Guangzhou, China.

Relays is a discipline that demands not only individual speed but also coordination and depth in sprint talent.

For decades, Uganda has built its global athletics identity on middle and long-distance running, producing excellent athletes in those categories.

In contrast, relay events, which rely heavily on a deep pool of elite sprinters, have not been a traditional stronghold. Countries such as the United States, Jamaica, South Africa, Canada and Botswana dominate relays largely because of their consistent investment in sprint development.

Uganda’s limited presence at the World Relays suggests that, for now, relays are still a work in progress rather than a proven area of strength. Success in these events requires more than individual talent; it demands depth, structured training systems and continuity in sprint programs areas where Uganda is still developing.

Relay coach Moses Asonya acknowledges this gap and emphasizes the need for deliberate investment in sprinting.

“To improve our relay performance, we must first improve our sprinters,” Asonya said. “That means giving them the right training to build speed and improve their times.”

Still, Asonya is quick to point out that sprinting is not foreign to Uganda’s athletics history. He references the golden era of the 1970s and 1980s, highlighted by John Akii-Bua’s historic 400m hurdles gold medal at the 1972 Olympics, the country’s first Olympic medal.

“Uganda once had very strong sprinters. The talent is there; we just need to identify it early and nurture it,” he noted.

Uganda’s return to the World Relays for a second time signals intent not dominance, but ambition.

While relays may not yet be “Uganda’s thing,” consistent participation could mark the beginning of a shift. With sustained investment in sprint development, the country could gradually build the depth needed to compete with the world’s best.