Sportsmen brace for USPA gala

Apr 28, 2016

The battle for the top award is between Mr.Universe Ivan Byekwaso and golfer Ronald Otile

The rush for invites was evident as early as Monday ahead of Friday's Nile Special-USPA Sportsman of the Year gala at Serena Hotel, where the best sportsmen and women of 2015 will be crowned.

And it is understandable as this is the biggest sports gathering that happens each year courtesy of Uganda's most awarded beer Nile Special. It is the only the sports event that brings together all sportsmen and their officials from different disciplines as well different corporates under one roof.

The battle for the top award is between Mr.Universe Ivan Byekwaso and golfer Ronald Otile who had a remarkable year in their respective fields. Netballer Rachael Nanyonga who was part of the She Cranes team that finished 8th at the Netball World Cup in Australia is also on the shortlist.

Byekwaso's heroics saw him win the Mr. Universe and the AM Body Building World Cup in San Diego in the US and finished 5th at the Mr.Olympia held in Las Vegas last year while Otile, capped a historic year by winning the amateur and professional categories of the Uganda Open, was also part of the Ugandan team that for the first time won the Zone VI golf tournament at Kitante.

On her part netballer Rachael Nanyonga, was superb for Uganda at the World Cup in Sydney.

The goal attacker scored 138 goals in the eight matches she played for the country in addition to 40 assists. Her club NIC Netball club also finished as runner up position in the national league.

Of these three, whoever is not crowned will take consolation in the fact that they were the best in their respective sports disciplines and would have already graced the podium to pick their personal accolades.

Legendary cricketer Sam Walusimbi will also be crowned with the Nile Special-USPA Legendary award for 2015, an award decided by the USPA top executive.

It is a black-tie event that will have other USPA partners and sponsors like City Tyres, Standard Chartered bank and SN Brussels as well as high ranking government and business people from the corporate world in attendance.

Athletics with 13 winners has dominated the awards since 1974. Motor rallying has taken 4 with football and netball bagging three and two accolades respectively.

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