Uganda’s team to the World Athletics Road Running Championships returned home on Tuesday with one bronze medal, won by team captain Joshua Chepetegei in the 21km race. On his arrival in Kampala, Cheptegei asked government to increase funding for Uganda Athletics citing poor preparation as the cause for the team’s mediocre performance at the championship held in Denmark.
The team was officially received by Uganda Athletics president Dominic Otuchet at the federation’s offices in Kampala . Cheptegei, who won bronze in the men’s half marathon, said Uganda’s performance could have been better with adequate preparation and financial support.
The Olympic and world champion clocked 58:26 to finish third behind Sweden’s Andreas Almgren and Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir. The performance was also a personal best for Cheptegei over the distance.
Cheptegei said the results should prompt stakeholders to increase investment in athletics, which remains one of Uganda’s leading sources of international sporting success.
‘We need to invest more in athletics. Timely financial and logistical support is very important if our athletes are to prepare adequately and compete effectively at the highest level,’ Cheptegei said.
He said athletes need adequate resources to prepare for major international competitions, arguing that better support would help Uganda maintain its position among the world’s leading athletics nations.
Cheptegei’s bronze was Uganda’s only medal in Copenhagen, although several other team members posted strong performances. Keneth Kiprop, for example, finished fifth in the men’s 5km in a personal best of 13:04.
The 16-member Ugandan team competed in the mile, 5km and half marathon events.
The bronze added another major championship medal to Cheptegei’s decorated career as he continues his transition from track events to road running.
The athlete has also used the Copenhagen achievement to highlight the wider value of athletics to Uganda, saying the sport can promote the country’s visibility, tourism, investment opportunities and national brand.
Cheptegei’s call comes as Uganda Athletics continues to push for greater support for the sport, which has produced some of the country’s biggest international sporting successes.