International Sports personalities who have visited Uganda

Nov 06, 2019

Unfortunately, the former AC Milan star then missed the encounter after he was caught up in traffic jam from Entebbe International Airport

Muhammad Ali (Boxing)

Visited Uganda in 1988 born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr in Louisville, Kentucky, he took the name of Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam in 1964, soon after he had stunned the sport by claiming the World Heavyweight Championship title with a monumental upset of Liston.

uhammad liMuhammad Ali

 

His 30-year career, which stretched from 1960 to 1981 and saw him retire with a record of 56-5, included such historic bouts as the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman. Other defining moments of Ali's career included two knockouts of Sonny Liston and his thrilling rivalry with Joe Frazier -- which saw the two men slug it out in the ring and verbally spar out of it. He received the highest US civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2005.

He represented the United Nations as a messenger of peace and was chosen to light the Olympic torch in 1996, when he was already weakened by Parkinson's. Muhammad Ali passed away at the age of 74 in June 2016 after battling Parkinson's disease for decades.

Gianni Infantino - FIFA

Gianni was the first FIFA president to visit Uganda. He came on 24, February 2017.  In his visit he was expected to discuss Ugandan football development with the FUFA executive committee and high ranking government officials in a breakfast meeting at Serena Hotel in Kampala.

Infantino Gianni was born on 23 March 1970 in Brig, Switzerland. He is a son of Italian immigrant parents from Calabria and Lombardy. He studied law at the University of Fribourg. 

Abedi Ayew Pele

Pele came to Uganda in November 2007 as Standard Bank's official ambassador for Ghana'08 Nations Cup finals on a three-day Standard Bank-supported MTN Nations Cup working visit.

bedi ele hands over a trophy to  girls Abedi Pele hands over a trophy to UNICEF girls

 

He was regarded as the best player in African history A Phillip Omondi admirer, in 1978, as a 12-year-old, he won the juvenile player award and was rewarded a ticket to attend the finals in Accra where he watched him.

He pioneered South Africa's bid to host the 2010 World Cup.

Dr. Jacques Rogge

He visited Uganda on 11th January 2007.  Rogge is a three-time Olympian in 1968,1972, and 1976 in yachting. He is the second IOC president to visit Uganda after Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1985.

  inner resident  ogge with  yangweso 110107 IOC  President J. Rogge with F. Nyangweso 11.01.07

 

Rogge was born in Ghent, Belgium. He is an orthopedic surgeon by profession and went to Jesiut private school Sint-Barbara college and the University of Ghent. 

During his visit he met the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. 

  inner resident  ogge  yangweso   tolu 110107 IOC President J. Rogge, F. Nyangweso & P. Etolu 11.01.07

 

Sebastian Coe - athletics

Sebastian visited Uganda on 24 March 2017, he came for the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championship that took place in Uganda. In his speech he said that, his major ambition to have Africa host a continental championship and holding a golden league had been fulfilled.

After his retirement from athletics, he was a member of parliament for the Conservative Party from 1992 to 1997 for Falmouth and Camborne in Cornwall, and became a Life Peer on 16 May 2000.

He was elected a vice-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in 2007, and re-elected for another four-year term in 2011. In August 2015 he was elected president of the IAAF.

Coe was born 29 September 1956, in Hammersmith, London. His mother was Tina Angela Coe who died in Hammersmith Fulham, London in 2005. His father was Peter Coe who died on 9th August 2008 aged 88.   -

1998 Frank Bruno (Boxing)

Franklin Roy Bruno, is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1996. Bruno became a professional boxer in 1982, quickly achieving 21 consecutive wins by knockout. 

The pinnacle of Bruno's boxing career was winning the WBC heavyweight title from Oliver McCall at a packed Wembley Stadium in 1995, in what was his fourth world championship challenge.

He was also known for his exceptional punching power, scoring 38 knockouts in 40 wins and giving him a 95% knockout-to-win ratio. He was advised not to fight again to avoid running the risk of causing any more damage to his eyes, which could result in permanent blindness.

Garry Kasparov JULY 8 2013.

He arrived in Uganda for the first time. Garry is a Former World Chess Champion and regarded as the best chess player of all time. He became a Grandmaster at the age of 22 in 1985.

arry asparov at the ntebbe international airport on 01 ay 2014 Garry Kasparov at the Entebbe international airport on 01 May 2014

 

His works in the game have touched many, including Uganda's own, the youngest candidate master, WCM Phiona Mutesi, 20, in the US early in 2013, the two played an exhibition game.

arry asparov hiona utesi and arry asparovPhiona Mutesi and Garry Kasparov

 

Garry came back for the second time in Uganda on 01 May 2014, with Githinji Hinga, the Kenya Chess chairman and Nurdin Hassuji, the Tanzania Chess Association general secretary as he rallied support for his FIDE presidential bid.

1999 George Weah (Soccer)

The 1995 world footballer of the year arrived late for a game against Cranes because of traffic jam on Entebbe road. During his first visit to Uganda in 1999 as a player, Weah's team lost 1-0 to Cranes with Philip Ssozi netting the lone goal.

eorge eah talking to iberian striker afor in training at akivuboGeorge Weah talking to Liberian striker Lafor in training at Nakivubo

 

Unfortunately, the former AC Milan star then missed the encounter after he was caught up in traffic jam from Entebbe International Airport even after he chartered a plane to Uganda. He arrived at Nakivubo Stadium and shed tears after the final whistle.

iberian football legend eorge eah in a practice session with the team at akivubo une 5 2013 Liberian football legend George Weah in a practice session with the team at Nakivubo, June 5, 2013

 

He later came back in June 2013 with his Liberian team to take on the Uganda Cranes in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers at Namboole.

The former world footballer (1995) is the President of Liberia today. He was sworn-in on 22 January 2018.

 

2004 Makhaya Ntini (Cricket) 

• Was in Uganda on June 10th, 2004. • first ethnically black player to play for the South African national cricket team
• The South African fast bowler was here on an invitation by the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) for festivities to mark 10 years of cricket development.
• 1n 2003 he won acclaim for taking ten wickets against England at Lords and on April 12th 2005 he took 13 wickets for 132 runs against the West Indies in the Port of Spain.

akhaya tini during his ganda on une 2004 Makhaya Ntini during his Uganda on June, 2004

 


• For his performances in 2006 and 2007, he was named in the World Test XI by ICC and by Cricinfo in the World Test XI.
• In June 2006, he was awarded a benefit by Border for his ten years' service to the game.
• He retired from all forms of international cricket on 9th January 2011, in a T20 against India.

akhaya tiniMakhaya Ntini

 

2006 Michael Johnson (Athletics)
• Olympic 400m and 200m legend
• Was in Uganda on 25th October 2006 

ichael ohnsons isit  prints with youthsb 261006Michael Johnson's Visit - Sprints with youths 26.10.06

 


• Came to Uganda on a humanitarian mission, visiting the Laureus Sports supported Community Based Aids Program (COBAP) in Nakulabye, a program that addresses HIV/AIDS awareness, poverty, life skills, illiteracy, delinquency and health issues through the use of sport and provides healthcare, rehabilitation and shelter for people who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.

ichael ohnsons isit  eets youthsh 261006 Michael Johnson's Visit - Meets youths 26.10.06

 


• Johnson is remembered for denying Uganda's Davis Kamoga victory twice, in the Atlanta Olympics (1996) and Athens World Athletics Championships (1997) where he won gold as Kamoga got bronze and silver respectively.  

ichael ohnsons isit  ith amogaa 261006 Michael Johnson's Visit - With Kamoga(a) 26.10.06

 

1975 Arthur Ashe (Tennis)

The only black player ever to win the men's singles at Wimbledon, the US Open, or Australian Open. Arthur Ashe played at Lugogo in 1970.

Ashe died on February 6, 1993 after receiving blood tainted with HIV during open heart surgery he was 49.

Ashe defeated Connors in four sets in the 1975 Wimbledon final, making him the first and only black man to win tennis's most prestigious championship

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