Nyangweso to be flown back
Aug 21, 2008
Critically ill Uganda Olympic Committee president Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso is likely to be flown back to Kampala tonight. A very reliable source confirmed Nyangweso has been hospitalised for more than a week and his wife has been at his bedside.
By Louis Jadwong, Norman Katende
in Beijing
and James Bakama
in Kampala
Critically ill Uganda Olympic Committee president Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso is likely to be flown back to Kampala tonight. A very reliable source confirmed Nyangweso has been hospitalised for more than a week and his wife has been at his bedside.
The source could not confirm the name of the hospital in Beijing, but said a team of China’s best doctors and nurses was set to be by his side on the 15-hour plane journey home.
“He has been sick all the time he has been here for the Olympics. He has cancer, diabetes and heart problems. I presume the family has asked that he be returned. That is why he is being flown back,†the source revealed.
Ugandan officials at the Games were all tight-lipped.
Nyangweso has not been seen in public since the Games started and did not visit the Olympic Village at all. Gabriel Oloka, secretary of Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), represented him at functions for national association presidents.
When the New Vision called Uganda’s ambassador to China Charles Madibo Wagidoso, he said he did not have details with him. “I have heard something close to what you are asking about. I am out of office now but will brief you about what I know tomorrow (Friday),†he said.
A UOC official in Kampala said he was aware Nyangweso was not well. “He was on treatment when he left for Beijing. We were just praying that he travels well. Those long hours must have affected him,†said the source that preferred anonymity.
Nyangweso has been experiencing sight deficiencies — a problem related to diabetes.
He is one of only 12 African members of the international Olympic Committee (IOC), and travelled two weeks back in his IOC capacity. He was elected to the powerful international sports body body in 1988.
Also in Beijing was UOC treasurer Salim Musoke and Roger Ddungu, the UOC vice-president who travelled as the team’s overall leader (chef de mission).
Musoke and Oloka are in Beijing but could not be reached on phone.
Nyangweso has been president of the Uganda Olympic Committee since 1981.
He, 68, competed at the 1960 Olympics as a light middle-weight boxer with the likes of US legend Muhammad Ali.
Uganda has 16 UOC registered associations including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, swimming, cycling, football, handball, hockey, shooting, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
Nyangweso is also a former Army Commander, Army Chief of Staff, Ambassador and minister during Idi Amin’s regime.
He has been head of the NCS, the Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation, and the Council of African Olympic Committees on top of being a vice-president of the International Amateur Boxing Federation — AIBA.
He has served on those bodies in numerous capacities for close to four decades.
in Beijing
and James Bakama
in Kampala
Critically ill Uganda Olympic Committee president Maj. Gen. Francis Nyangweso is likely to be flown back to Kampala tonight. A very reliable source confirmed Nyangweso has been hospitalised for more than a week and his wife has been at his bedside.
The source could not confirm the name of the hospital in Beijing, but said a team of China’s best doctors and nurses was set to be by his side on the 15-hour plane journey home.
“He has been sick all the time he has been here for the Olympics. He has cancer, diabetes and heart problems. I presume the family has asked that he be returned. That is why he is being flown back,†the source revealed.
Ugandan officials at the Games were all tight-lipped.
Nyangweso has not been seen in public since the Games started and did not visit the Olympic Village at all. Gabriel Oloka, secretary of Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), represented him at functions for national association presidents.
When the New Vision called Uganda’s ambassador to China Charles Madibo Wagidoso, he said he did not have details with him. “I have heard something close to what you are asking about. I am out of office now but will brief you about what I know tomorrow (Friday),†he said.
A UOC official in Kampala said he was aware Nyangweso was not well. “He was on treatment when he left for Beijing. We were just praying that he travels well. Those long hours must have affected him,†said the source that preferred anonymity.
Nyangweso has been experiencing sight deficiencies — a problem related to diabetes.
He is one of only 12 African members of the international Olympic Committee (IOC), and travelled two weeks back in his IOC capacity. He was elected to the powerful international sports body body in 1988.
Also in Beijing was UOC treasurer Salim Musoke and Roger Ddungu, the UOC vice-president who travelled as the team’s overall leader (chef de mission).
Musoke and Oloka are in Beijing but could not be reached on phone.
Nyangweso has been president of the Uganda Olympic Committee since 1981.
He, 68, competed at the 1960 Olympics as a light middle-weight boxer with the likes of US legend Muhammad Ali.
Uganda has 16 UOC registered associations including archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, swimming, cycling, football, handball, hockey, shooting, table tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
Nyangweso is also a former Army Commander, Army Chief of Staff, Ambassador and minister during Idi Amin’s regime.
He has been head of the NCS, the Uganda Amateur Boxing Federation, and the Council of African Olympic Committees on top of being a vice-president of the International Amateur Boxing Federation — AIBA.
He has served on those bodies in numerous capacities for close to four decades.