The flag rose slowly, however the hopes of a nation soared immediately; with Uganda’s flag held excessive and the nation’s best athletes standing proudly earlier than her, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja formally flagged off Team Uganda to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in a ceremony crammed with patriotism, optimism and perception at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya, Kampala.
The occasion marked extra than simply the departure of athletes. It was a celebration of Uganda’s sporting journey, a reaffirmation of presidency dedication to sports activities growth, and a rallying name for Team Uganda to jot down one other memorable chapter on the worldwide stage.
Leading the ceremony on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Nabbanja formally commissioned the nationwide delegation forward of the Games scheduled to run from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow.
Delivering an lively and infrequently humorous tackle, the Prime Minister reminded the athletes that they had been carrying way over competitors gear; they had been carrying the goals, satisfaction and aspirations of a whole nation.
“Our athletes carry the hopes, satisfaction and flag of Uganda. Compete with willpower, integrity and self-discipline, and make Uganda proud,” she urged.
She introduced that the Government of Uganda had absolutely funded Team Uganda’s participation, describing the funding as one other demonstration of the federal government’s unwavering dedication to growing sports activities and creating alternatives for Ugandan athletes to excel on the worldwide stage.
Reflecting on Uganda’s wealthy Commonwealth Games historical past, Nabbanja famous that the nation could be making its sixteenth look on the Games, having gathered 58 medals; 19 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze; principally by means of athletics and boxing. She challenged the present technology to lift that tally even larger.
“We need extra medals this time; extra gold, extra silver and extra bronze,” she stated confidently, expressing religion that the staff possessed the standard to surpass earlier performances.
One of the defining moments of her speech got here as she celebrated a historic milestone for Ugandan sport.
For the primary time ever on the Commonwealth Games, Uganda will ship extra feminine athletes than male athletes. The 55-athlete contingent options 34 ladies and 21 males, together with 5 para-athletes, reflecting the nation’s rising dedication to gender inclusion and equal alternatives in sport. Women will compete throughout nearly each self-discipline, lacking solely weightlifting and observe biking.
Uganda will contest 9 of the ten sports activities on the Glasgow programme by means of eight nationwide federations, fielding athletes in athletics, basketball 3×3, boxing, judo, netball, swimming, para-swimming, para-powerlifting, weightlifting and observe biking. Among the highlights would be the Commonwealth Games debuts of ladies’s basketball 3×3 and judo, whereas the She Cranes return after a formidable fifth-place end in Birmingham 4 years in the past with seven skilled gamers again within the squad.
The athletics staff will as soon as once more be anticipated to steer Uganda’s medal hunt, spearheaded by Olympic steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai, the nation’s solely returning Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth medallist. She can be joined by completed runners Halimah Nakayi, Rebecca Chelangat, Oscar Chelimo, Dan Kibet and a robust combined relay quartet that includes Maureen Banura, Eric Okwi, Adoli Haron and Leni Shida.
In the pool, Uganda’s hopes will relaxation on an thrilling mix of home-grown and internationally primarily based swimmers. European-based dash sensation Gloria Muzito, alongside United States-based Jesse Ssengonzi and Jordan Samula, will be part of the staff instantly in Glasgow. They can be complemented by Tendo Mukalazi, Tendo Kawumi, Kirabo Namutebi and Tara Naluwoza, whereas para-swimming stars Husnah Kukundakwe and Condoleeza Nakazibwe proceed Uganda’s rising status in para sport.
The Bombers will area six boxers throughout each the boys’s and girls’s divisions, whereas African quantity two-ranked weightlifter Davis Niyoyita carries Uganda’s hopes within the 55kg class. In para-powerlifting, Denis Mbaziira, Janet Nakayobyo and Rebecca Zawedde will symbolize the nation after departing forward of the principle delegation.
Beyond celebrating the athletes, Nabbanja praised the progress made in Uganda’s sports activities infrastructure. She acknowledged that a number of members of Team Uganda had skilled on the newly reconstructed Hoima City Stadium and reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to finishing the National High Altitude Training Centre in Teryet earlier than preparations start for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. She additionally highlighted the nation’s absolutely operational National Anti-Doping Organisation as proof of Uganda’s continued dedication to scrub sport and worldwide requirements.
The Prime Minister additionally used the event to problem sports activities directors to stay prudent in using public sources, emphasising that authorities funding ought to proceed to prioritise athletes and their preparation.
As the ceremony drew to a detailed, the nationwide flag was handed over and the formal declaration made. The applause that adopted echoed the boldness surrounding a delegation constructed on youth, expertise and ambition.
