TEAM UGANDA COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL OUTING AT THE 2023 AFRICAN GAMES IN ACCRA

Team Uganda with a medal haul of 20 medals at the 13th African Games in Accra Ghana is the 2nd best performance for Uganda since 1979. Uganda was represented in 18 disciplines and with electric performances successfully completed the continental games in 13th position overall.

‘Uganda acknowledges and appreciates your talents, and thanks you for representing our country proudly.’- congratulated the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Janet Museveni.

Uganda’s swimming sensation Gloria Muzito with a new national record 56.01 put up an immaculate performance in the 100m freestyle final to win a bronze medals and Uganda’s first ever swimming medal at this level.
The Uganda Badminton Team equally made history with the Husnah Kobugabe winning silver in the women’s singles and thereafter teamed up with Gladys Mbabazi to claim champion the women’s doubles, while Fadillah Shamika also won a bronze medal in the women’s singles.

Davis Niyoita after years of hard work delivered 2 silver and 1 Bronze medals in the weightlifting competition in the snatch, total and clean and jerk to complete his medal hattrick. Cyclist Charles Kagimu raced through the hot wealth conditions of Accra to win a Gold medal in the individual time trial to the excitement of fans worldwide. The Uganda Bombers Trio of Semuddu Muzamir, Murungi Kassim and Innocent Tumusiime won 3 bronze medals.

In Athletics, Halima Nakaayi clocked 1:58.59 to claim a silver medal in the women’s 800m at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai clocked 9:16.07 to come home second (silver medal) behind Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech. In the women’s Javelin Throw event, Uganda’s Joyce Josephine Lalam won a bronze medal and set a new national record with her 57.01m throw.

The Uganda Cranes won the Rugby 7s Gold as the sport makes its maiden appearance at the African Games. The Men’s team accomplished the historic unbeaten feat in the round robin competition in which seven countries participated. Thereafter, Uganda national women’s 7s rugby team, the Lady Cranes emulated the men’s team with a 29-0 win over Madagascar to seal their own Team Gold in a five-team competition.

Team Uganda continued their record medal harvest by adding a Silver and Bronze medals in the Under 20 mens and women’s competition respectively. The Men’s under20 team, the Hippos in a pulsating finals fell to a last gasp goal from the Ghana team and settled for silver at the Accra Sports Stadium. While the Queen Cranes, the Uganda womens’s Under20 national football team overcame Senegal 6-5 on penalties after a scoreless draw in normal time in the bronze medal match at the Cape Coast Stadium.

The men’s 3x3 basketball team lost their seminal to eventual champions Algeria, but took it out on Botswana in the 3rd place off, bagging Bronze medal.
The Cricket Cranes won Uganda’s final medal, sealing bronze in the T20 competition by overcoming Kenya in the 3rd place playoff match.

‘The African Games in Accra have been quite eye-opening to the entire sports fraternity in Uganda and highlight the diversity of Uganda’s talent and skills in different sports. We have seen so many different sports disciplines where we have not traditionally been getting medals and have seen athletes perform at a very high level.’ Remarked the NCS Chairperson, Mr. Ambrose Tashobya.

Egypt will host the next 14th edition of the African Games in 2027.

UGANDA MEDAL TALLY:
SWIMMING:
1 Bronze, women’s 100m freestyle - Gloria Muzito,

WEIGHTLIFTING:
1 Silver, 55kg Clean & Jerk - Davis Niyoita
1 Silver, 55kg Total - Davis Niyoita
1 Bronze, Snatch - Davis Niyoita

BADMINTON:
1 Gold, Women’s doubles - Husnah Kobugabe/Gladys Mbabazi
1 Silver, Women’s singles - Husnah Kobugabe
1 Bronze, Women’s singles – Fadillah Shamika

CYCLING:
1 Gold, Individual Time Trial – Charles Kagimu

ATHLETICS:
1 Silver, Women’s 800m – Halima Nakaayi
1 Silver, Women’s 3000m Steeplechase – Peruth Chemutai
1 Bronze, Women’s Javelin throw – Joyce Lalam

BOXING:
1 Bronze, - Innocent Tumusiime
1 Bronze - Murungi Kassim
1 Bronze-Semuddu Muzamir

RUGBY:
Team Gold, Men’s Rugby 7s, Rugby Cranes
Team Gold, Women’s Rugby 7s, Lady Cranes

BASKETBALL:
Team Bronze, Men’s Under23 3x3 Silverbacks

FOOTBALL:
Team Silver, Under20 Mens, Uganda Hippos
Team Bronze, Under20 Womens, Queen Cranes

CRICKET:
Team Bronze, Men’s Cricket Cranes

Monday, March 25, 2024