President Museveni meets Kiprotich

Aug 23, 2013

WORLD marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich has today been treated to a presidential feast in recognition of his triumph in at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow

By James Bakama

WORLD marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich has today been treated to a presidential feast in recognition of his triumph in at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

President Yoweri Museveni met the marathoner and the rest of the team that represented Uganda at the just concluded biennial event  his country home in Rwakitura.

For winning gold in Moscow, President Museveni gave Kiprotich a brand new Mitsubishi Pajero and promised to build the athlete a three bedroomed house. 

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Kiprotich gets a taste of his new wheels. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

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Kiprotich's parents James Kiptoi Kiboi and Enserena Cheptum take a seat in the brand new Mitsubishi Pajero. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

The rest of the 11 athletes who represented the country were also handed Sh10 million each by the President. A pledge of cash rewards for each medal won in future international engagements was also made.

Every gold medal winner will be guaranteed shs5 million, 3m for a silver and one million for every broze medal won.

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Kiprotich dressed in Prisons' fatigues arrives at Rwakitura for the function. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

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Athletics officials and guests arrive led by Domenic Otuchet (left) who was the head of Team Uganda in Moscow. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

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UOC officials Dennis Galabuzi and William Blick were in attendance. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

Uganda will host the Africa Cross Country Championships in 2014 and President Museveni also pledged to cover the $350,000 required to organise the event.

This was one of several welcome functions that have been organized for Kiprotich who won the world meet in the Russian capital last Saturday.

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Athletes Moses Kipsiro and Ronald Musagala share a joke during the function. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo.

It will be the second time Museveni hosts Kiprotich. The athlete was also the president’s guest last August when he also won gold at the London Olympics. That time the Olympians were hosted at State House, Entebbe.

Museveni rewarded Kiprotich with sh200m for his win and also offered to build for the athlete’s parents a residential house. The Kapchorwa house has been completed and the parents will soon occupy it.

Today’s function will be the last that Kiprotich will be attending. From Rwakitura he heads east to his home district of Kapchorwa where more welcome activities have been organized.

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Guests were treated to a heavy lunch at the event. Photo by Mpalanyi Ssentongo

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After the festivities he will be cooling off for a month before he begins planning for his next competition.

Kiprotich and his teammates were on arrival from Moscow on Monday hosted at State House, Entebbe by Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. 

Mbabazi congratulated Kiprotich and said the high altitude center in Teryet, Kapchorwa, whose construction begins next year, will be named after the athlete in recognition for his achievements.

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