Uganda's medal hopefuls: A sport by sport look at the Glasgow Games

Uganda will be represented in nine sports disciplines at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the national team featuring athletes and competitors in athletics, netball, boxing, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, swimming, para-swimming, judo and para-powerlifting.

Historically, athletics and boxing have been Uganda’s most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games, accounting for the majority of the country’s 58 medals won over the years.

This year, Uganda is sending a team of 55 competitors, all hoping to return home with medals in both individual and team events. As the Games get underway, we take a look at some of Uganda’s biggest medal hopefuls and assess the country’s chances across the different disciplines.

ATHLETICS

Joy Cheptoyek – 10,000m

Joy Cheptoyek will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, arriving with an impressive record that makes her one of Uganda’s medal hopefuls.

Cheptoyek is a silver medalist from the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships and also finished second in this year’s 10-mile race in Washington, USA.

Her strong performances over long distances have raised expectations, and if she reproduces that form on the Commonwealth stage, she could challenge for a medal in the 10,000m.

Halimah Nakaayi – 800m

The 2019 World 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi will compete at her fourth Commonwealth Games after making her debut in 2014.

A return to Glasgow carries special significance for Nakaayi, as it was here that her Commonwealth journey began 12 years ago, at a time when she was transitioning into the senior ranks of her career.

Nakaayi is still searching for her first Commonwealth Games medal and will be determined to achieve that goal on her return to Glasgow.

Her preparations have included a third-place finish at the Doha Diamond League and an appearance at the Kip Keino Classic in Kenya. If she remains healthy and produces her best performance on the day, Nakaayi has a realistic chance of challenging for a medal.

Peruth Chemutai – 3,000m Steeplechase

Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai will be seeking another major Games medal when she lines up in the 3,000m steeplechase.

Chemutai won bronze at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and will be making her second appearance at the event.

The 2021 Olympic champion has already demonstrated strong form this season, winning a Wanda Diamond League meeting in China. With her experience at the highest level and current form, Chemutai remains one of Uganda’s strongest medal prospects.

Dan Kibet – 5,000m and 10,000m

Dan Kibet will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, competing in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.

The 2023 African U20 5,000m champion has already shown his potential on the international stage. He was also part of Uganda’s silver-medal-winning team at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

With that experience behind him, Kibet will be hoping to turn his potential into an individual Commonwealth Games medal.

Kenneth Kiprop – 5,000m and 10,000m

Kenneth Kiprop is another debutant hoping to make an immediate impact in Glasgow.

The 2023 World Athletics U20 Championships bronze medalist was also part of Uganda’s bronze-medal-winning team at the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

His exposure to elite competition continued this year with appearances in two Diamond League races, finishing 10th in the 5,000m and 16th in the 3,000m.

Those experiences could prove valuable as he steps onto the Commonwealth Games stage, making him one of Uganda’s athletes who cannot be ruled out of the medal conversation.

Samuel Simba Cherop – 10,000m

Samuel Simba Cherop is another young athlete making his Commonwealth Games debut.

The 2025 African U20 champion has already tasted success at senior international level, winning silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m at the 2025 Islamic Games.

This year, Cherop finished fourth in the 5km race in Lausanne, Switzerland, and placed 12th at the African Senior Athletics Championships.

As the younger brother of Uganda’s celebrated athletes Jacob Kiplimo, Oscar Chelimo and Victor Kiplangat, Cherop will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of his siblings and establish his own name on the international stage.

Oscar Chelimo – 5,000m

Oscar Chelimo will also be making his Commonwealth Games debut, bringing valuable experience from major international competitions.

The 2022 World Championships bronze medalist finished sixth at the Lisbon Half Marathon and third in the 10km Manchester Great Run this year.

With additional training in Kapchorwa, Chelimo will be hoping to rediscover the form that has seen him succeed at global level and follow the path of his brother Jacob Kiplimo and fellow Ugandan star Victor Kiplangat.

NETBALL

Netball remains Uganda’s most successful team sport and will be making its third Commonwealth Games appearance following its debut at the 2018 Gold Coast Games.

The She Cranes finished fifth at the 2022 Birmingham Games, their best-ever Commonwealth Games position, and will be targeting an improvement in Glasgow.

However, their preparations have been less extensive than they would have hoped. The team had only one major international engagement this year, playing three matches against South Africa’s Spar Proteas and losing all three encounters.

Uganda has been drawn in Group B alongside Jamaica, Wales, Scotland, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago.

The group presents a major challenge, with several highly ranked teams competing for the top positions. The She Cranes will need to produce their best performances to progress into the medal bracket.

While a medal may be difficult to achieve, Uganda will be aiming to improve on its previous fifth-place finish and prove that it can compete with the world’s best.

BOXING

Boxing has historically been one of Uganda’s strongest medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games, alongside athletics.

Uganda will be represented by six boxers in Glasgow: Emily Nakalema in the welterweight category (65kg), Angel Katushabe in the flyweight category (51kg), Ibrahim Kemis in the lightweight category (60kg), Bate Nuhu in the welterweight category (65kg), Alfred Ojok in the light heavyweight category (80kg), and Abdul Aziz in the heavyweight category (92kg).

With Emily Nakalema providing the most experience within the squad, Uganda’s boxing team will have to rely on both experience and determination to keep the country’s medal tradition alive.

Historically, boxing has delivered some of Uganda’s most memorable Commonwealth Games performances. The Glasgow team will therefore carry the weight of that history as they seek to add to Uganda’s medal tally.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Uganda returned home with five medals, including three gold. Jacob Kiplimo claimed a historic distance double, winning the 5,000m and 10,000m titles, while Victor Kiplangat secured gold in the marathon. Peruth Chemutai earned bronze in the women's 3,000m steeplechase, and boxer Teddy Nakimuli also claimed a bronze medal.