Uganda has a 25-person team that will be flying the country’s flag high at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. The team includes 10 men and 11 women competing in athletics in different categories, one cyclist, two swimmers, and one person representing the country in rowing.
Uganda made its debut appearance at the Summer Olympics in 1956 in Melbourne and has participated in every Olympic competition since, except the one in Montreal in 1976, when it took part in the African boycott. The boycott, in which 28 African nations participated, was in protest of the International Olympic Committee’s refusal to listen to their deamands to exclude New Zealand from the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. These demands were due to the New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks, tour of then aperthide-era South Africa.
Since its debut at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Uganda has won 11 medals. Four golds, four silvers, and three bronzes. Seven of the medals, and all the gold medals, have been in track and field athletics, and four in boxing.
Just three years after gaining independence from Britain on October 9, 1962, in its sixth Olympic appearance, Uganda won its first two Olympic medals at the 1968 Mexico Summer Olympics. The first was a silver medal from Eridadi Mukwanga for boxing in the men’s bantamweight. The second was a bronze medal from Leo Rwabwogo for boxing in the men’s flyweight.
Uganda earned its first gold medal on September 2, 1972, at the Munich Summer Olympics, where John Akii-Bua won the 400-meter hurdle race final in a then record 47.82 seconds. It would be another 40 years until Uganda won another gold medal; in the 2012 London Olympics, Stephen Kiprotich won gold for the country in the men’s marathon in a record 2:08:01. This win by Kiprotich was Uganda’s first time winning the men’s marathon as well.
"Akii-Bua won the 400m hurdles in a record 47.82 seconds."
"Stephen Kiprotich won marathon gold in a record 2:08:01."
The Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics were one of the best for Uganda. The country bagged four medals, all in athletics. The first gold medal was won by Peruth Chemutai in the women’s 3000-meter steeple race. Joshua Cheptegei then won gold in the men’s 5000-meter race and silver in the men’s 10,000-meter race. Jacob Kiplimo was not far behind and won bronze in the men’s 10,000-meter race. Cheptegei and Kiplimo’s wins in the men’s 10,000-meter race were Uganda’s first double podium at the Olympics. Peruth Chemutai was the first woman to win gold for Uganda at the Olympics.
Fast forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Uganda has struck gold again. Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 10,000 meters in a record time of 26:43.14. Peruth Chemutain won silver in the women’s 3000-meter steeple race.
These Olympics have also been one of a few firsts for the country. Charles Kagimu has become the first Ugandan to complete an Olympic race in cycling. He is Uganda’s first Olympic cyclist in 40 years; the first time Uganda has had cyclists in the Olympics was in 1984 in Los Angeles with Ernest Buule and Muharud Mukasa. Kathleen Grace Nobel, an Ugandan-Irish rower, was the first Ugandan to qualify for rowing at the Olympics.
"Joshua Cheptegei won the 10,000m in a record 26:43.14."
"Peruth Chemutai won silver in the 3000m steeplechase."
Despite there being two Olympics in winter and summer, Uganda has never taken part in the winter Olympics. With the exception of Tofiri Kibuuka, who represented Uganda and participated in cross-country skiing at the Winter Paralympic Games in 1978 and 1980. Brolin Mawejje also attempted to qualify for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and represent Uganda.
As the 2024 Olympics in Paris continue until the closing ceremony on August 11, we will continue to watch Uganda as it competes with fingers crossed and hopeful hearts.
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