MPs to debate Uganda's poor show in Olympics

PIC: PIC: Uganda's flag bearer Joshua E Tibatemwa leads his delegation during the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 5, 2016. AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE

Parliamentarians will this afternoon debate the poor performance of Ugandan athletes in the just concluded Olympic Games.    

Although Uganda sent 20 athletes to Rio, none won a medal which reflects one of the worst performances over the last 10 years.

 The issue has been brought to attention of the Speaker of Parliament by Allan Ssewanyana, the Opposition Shadow minister for sports and is item number four on the Order Paper.

Uganda has for years curved a niche in boxing — and lately long distance running -- but a number of reasons, including inadequate funding hampered preparations for the global sport event.      

The preparations for the event were, at best in disarray, and some athletes who represented a genuine chance for a medal were left out of the team.

The case in point is star athlete, Moses Kipsiro, who was mysteriously dropped from the team despite qualifying for the Games in Brazil.

While boxers 31-year-old Ronald Sserugo and Kenneth Katende were expected to finish in medal bracket, they bowed out in the preliminary stages.

Equally, 2012 gold medal winner Stephen Kiprotich came 14th in the competition that was won Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchorge.