By Reuben Olita
and Johnson Were

A 33-member Ugandan contingent to the Africa Athletics championships in Nairobi was accorded a tight security detail on arrival at the Malaba border town yesterday en route to Nairobi by road.

There was excitement when the team crossed into Kenya at 11am with Kenyans eager to know whether Dorcus Inzikuru was in the squad.

After being cleared by the immigration the team was given escort by Kenya police.

Local organising committee of the championships has guaranteed Ugandan runners maximum security following the July 11 bomb blasts that rocked Kampala leaving 76 dead and over 50 injured.

Committee chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat said a special police unit had been appointed to guard athletes.

Kiplagat said Uganda, Burundi and Ethiopian athletes whose countries have sent peacekeepers to Somalia could be the main target from al Shabaab who claimed responsibility of the blasts, thus the need to provide enough security.

Nyayo stadium, the venue of the championships is under 24 hour surveillance with facilities to be used undergoing tests yesterday.

Seeing off the athletes in Kampala on Saturday sports state minister Charles Bakkabulindi urged them to put the pride of their country in the forefront.

Bakkabulindi made the appeal while flagging off the contingent at Namboole.

“You must represent Uganda with all your souls and morals through best performance,” he said.