Women in the driving seat for Nile Special USPA main Award

By Swalley Kenyi

WITH eight of USPA’s monthly awards gone to women and two of the prominent women on the list for the sportsman of year contest for the first time in years, the 2011 Nile Special USPA Award appears to be headed the same way.

Female rally driver Susan Muwonge and runners Annet Negesa contest the award against male counterparts’ athlete Moses Kipsiro and badminton star Edwin Ekiring.

The stars were picked during the Nile Special USPA monthly assembly held at Lugogo on Monday.  The winner will be crowned at the annual gala set for the Golf Course Hotel on January 27.

The four contestants are all winners in their respective disciplines and it will be the third time Kipsiro is appears for the award having contested in 2009 and 2010.

He lost the 2009 award to Heathens rugby club but the 2010 award winners will be announced the night of January 27.

The 2011 awards ceremony will also have top athletes for the 2010 season crowned, according to USPA president Mark Namanya.

“I am sure this will be the most glamorous gala ever as we reward sporting excellence,” Namanya who commended Nile Breweries for funding the ceremony said.

Negesa was nominated for the top award after winning an 800m bronze medal at the World Junior championships.

She also won gold in the 800m and 1500m at the Africa Junior Championship. She walked away with another gold in the 800m at the All Africa Games.

Muwonge is on the nomination list after an outstanding display in the male dominated sport.

The leading female rally driver in the country won the National Rally Championship title.

She became the first female competitor to claim the award.

Germany-based Ekiring was picked for his strong performance on the international badminton circuit.

USPA also voted top performers in various disciplines.

Hamis ‘Diego’ Kiiza, who plays for Tanzania giants Yanga, was voted the top footballer, Duncan Mugabe was unchallenged in lawn tennis while Charles Sekyewa is the top athlete in the weightlifting discipline.

Sports Personality of the Year Award

Nominees

Susan Muwonge

Annet Negesa

Moses Kipsiro

Edwin Ekiring

Individual Disciplines

Award winners

Selected categories

Soccer: Hamis Kizza

Athletics

Men– Moses. Kipsiro

Women – Annet Negesa

Rallying

Susan Muwonge/Edwin Kyeyune

Boxing: R. Serugo

Golf

Men-R. Byaruhanga

Women- F. Namakula

Cricket

Men-D. Arinaitwe

Women-B. Mukankusi

Weightlifting

C. Sekyaya

Rugby

Men-Jutin  Kimono

Women-A.  Nakityo

Basketball

Men-Isaac. Afidra

Women-P.  Odhiambo

Volleyball

Men-Dickens Otim

Women-Vivinne Aketch

Lawn tennis

Dancan  Mugabe

Badminton: Edwin Ekiring