Inzzi back home
Mar 29, 2006
UGANDA’S gallant team to the Commonwealth Games returned home yesterday to a warm and moving reception, glowing with honour and glory.
By Steven Candia & Norman Katende
UGANDA’S gallant team to the Commonwealth Games returned home yesterday to a warm and moving reception, glowing with honour and glory.
Centre of attention was Commonwealth 3,000m steeplechase gold medallist Dorcus Inzikuru, beaming her trademark smile as she entered the VIP lounge at Entebbe Airport.
Boniface Kiprop (10,000m) and Martin Mubiru (boxer) clinched gold and bronze. Mubiru arrived on Tuesday while Kiprop headed to Japan for the World Cross-country Championships. Inzikuru was among the final team of 23 athletes and officials who landed at Entebbe at 2:40pm.
In the background, as the plane touched down and later through the hurriedly convened press conference in the lounge, drums and xylophones roared.
The athletes emerged from the plane in their resplendent Puma tracksuits, some wearing white Commonwealth Games T-shirts.
Inzzi, as she is popularly known, spotted a golden crown and time and again flashed her medal.
The heroic track and fields team in Uganda’s Commonwealth Games history was received by a battery of top officials.
Uganda telecom sprung a surprise offering both gold medallist Inzikuru and Kiprop each a $1,000 cheque, fully-connected phones with sh500,000 worth of airtime each.
For the bronze achievement, Mubiru got a fully-connected mobile phone with sh100,000 airtime.
At the press conference, head of delegation to the games Justine Ligyalingi showered praises on the team, which he described as the youngest to represent the country but put up a gallant performance.
Oloka hailed the athletes, particularly the stars Inzikuru and Kiprop, and reiterated commitment to tapping young talent. Former Arua Municipality MP Joram Ajeani could not hide his excitement. He kissed Inzikuru’s medal.
Outside the VIP lounge on the driveway, an ecstatic crowd from West Nile, Inzikuru’s home area, kicked up a cocktail of traditional dances.
Similar joyous scenes played out in Kisubi, Zaana, Lubowa and Najjananukumbi.
A moving scene played out at Kisubi where school children of St. Savio Junior School in their uniforms stood by the road side with flowers in their hands and sang Inzikuru welcome.
A teacher captured the scene on video.
Her entry to the city caused a stir as ecstatic residents raced about to catch a glimpse of her. Many yelled her name while others whistled.
She was driven through Entebbe and Kampala then headed to Arua.
UGANDA’S gallant team to the Commonwealth Games returned home yesterday to a warm and moving reception, glowing with honour and glory.
Centre of attention was Commonwealth 3,000m steeplechase gold medallist Dorcus Inzikuru, beaming her trademark smile as she entered the VIP lounge at Entebbe Airport.
Boniface Kiprop (10,000m) and Martin Mubiru (boxer) clinched gold and bronze. Mubiru arrived on Tuesday while Kiprop headed to Japan for the World Cross-country Championships. Inzikuru was among the final team of 23 athletes and officials who landed at Entebbe at 2:40pm.
In the background, as the plane touched down and later through the hurriedly convened press conference in the lounge, drums and xylophones roared.
The athletes emerged from the plane in their resplendent Puma tracksuits, some wearing white Commonwealth Games T-shirts.
Inzzi, as she is popularly known, spotted a golden crown and time and again flashed her medal.
The heroic track and fields team in Uganda’s Commonwealth Games history was received by a battery of top officials.
Uganda telecom sprung a surprise offering both gold medallist Inzikuru and Kiprop each a $1,000 cheque, fully-connected phones with sh500,000 worth of airtime each.
For the bronze achievement, Mubiru got a fully-connected mobile phone with sh100,000 airtime.
At the press conference, head of delegation to the games Justine Ligyalingi showered praises on the team, which he described as the youngest to represent the country but put up a gallant performance.
Oloka hailed the athletes, particularly the stars Inzikuru and Kiprop, and reiterated commitment to tapping young talent. Former Arua Municipality MP Joram Ajeani could not hide his excitement. He kissed Inzikuru’s medal.
Outside the VIP lounge on the driveway, an ecstatic crowd from West Nile, Inzikuru’s home area, kicked up a cocktail of traditional dances.
Similar joyous scenes played out in Kisubi, Zaana, Lubowa and Najjananukumbi.
A moving scene played out at Kisubi where school children of St. Savio Junior School in their uniforms stood by the road side with flowers in their hands and sang Inzikuru welcome.
A teacher captured the scene on video.
Her entry to the city caused a stir as ecstatic residents raced about to catch a glimpse of her. Many yelled her name while others whistled.
She was driven through Entebbe and Kampala then headed to Arua.