Athletics Uganda gears up for the100 years celebrations

5 June 2025, 6:13 pm

By Kyeyune Ali

The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) feels ready and geared up to celebrate its 100 years of existence and excellence.

In a press briefing held at their headquarters in Kampala it was confirmed that the celebrations will commence on Saturday, 7th May 2025 at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole with a number of activities.

Among the activities is the annual Akii-Bua Memorial Invitational Meet that shall be held, starting at 8:00 Am with a number of international invitations for athletes from Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Akii-Bua is a legendary Ugandan athlete who won gold at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany when he set a world record in the men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 47.82.

The Akii-Bua Memorial Invitational Meet is now a bronze level event given the $50,000 in total that will be distributed to the top performers on the day. There are 10 events lined up on the day with sprints, medal distance and field activities (long jump, javelin and short put). 100M, 400M, 800M, 1500M, 5000M, 400M hurdles will be run for both genders.

International athletes invited include Kenya’s Sarah Mora (800M), Gebreham from Eritrea (1500M), South Sudanese Ayub Choul (long jump), Ethiopian Mora (5000M), Kenya’s Dorcus Chekwemoi (5000M), Juma Tyson and Babu Meshaki from Kenya (100M), South Sudan’s Deng (100M), Ethiopian Saidi Agesa (800M), among others. These will compete with a variety of long athletes from Uganda as Harold Adoli (400M), Tom Dradiga (800M), Musa Isabirye (100M), Sam Kiprotich (1500M), Dan Kibet (5000M), Charles Okello (Long jump), Shida Leni (400M), Halima Nakaayi (800M), Sarah Chelangat (5000M), Josephine Lalam (Javelin), Prisca Anena (Discuss throw), Brian Onenchan (400M hurdles) and many others. The occasion will consist of over 190 athletics in all activities on the day . The elite runners will be joined by the kids fun races and the corporate 4X100m race.

The day’s activities will commence with the mass race. There will be a cultural performance and a march led by the Uganda Police Band. The day-long celebration will blend competitive sport with tributes to Uganda’s rich athletic history. Uganda Athletics will also honour the family of the legendary Akii-Bua. On the same day Athletics Uganda will plant over a thousand trees in order to protect the environment due to climate changes in Uganda.