Hon Hamson Obua celebrates Uganda’s Olympic Legends, calls for Broader Sports Representation

By Emmanuel Sekago

Government Chief Whip and Ajuri County Member of Parliament, Rt Hon Hamson Obua, expressed immense pride and emotion as he celebrated the achievements of ASP Joshua Cheptegei and IP Peruth Chemutai, hailing them as great legends in Ugandan sports.

Reflecting on Uganda’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Obua acknowledged the disappointment felt by many but emphasized the significance of the country’s accomplishments on the global stage.

Uganda finished 55th overall in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, a decline from the 36th position achieved at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The country secured two medals—Joshua Cheptegei’s gold in the men’s 10,000 metres final and Peruth Chemutai’s silver in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase.

While some were disappointed by the drop in ranking and the withdrawal of both Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei from the 5,000m event, Rt Hon Obua urged Ugandans to appreciate the efforts of the athletes and celebrate their achievements.

Speaking to Wallnetnews, Rt Hon Obua highlighted the broader context of the Olympics, noting that 206 countries participated in the Paris Games, with only 84 nations winning medals.

“Team Uganda did its best,” Obua stated, pointing out that many countries with larger delegations left the Games empty-handed.

“Uganda may have dropped 19 places from Tokyo, but winning two medals on such a global stage is no small feat,” Obua continued.

He praised Cheptegei’s gold-winning performance in the men’s 10,000 metres, where he set a new Olympic record of 26:43.14, and Chemutai’s silver medal in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase, which also set a new national record.

Obua reminded Ugandans of the extraordinary achievements of both athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where Chemutai won gold in the steeplechase and Cheptegei took gold in the 5,000 metres and silver in the 10,000 metres.

Obua passionately argued that Uganda should regard Cheptegei and Chemutai as legends. “Tell me any athlete who has ever done it, representing Uganda at the Olympic Games and winning medals as consistently as they have. They are truly our sports legends,” he declared.

He stressed the importance of embracing and celebrating these athletes rather than taking their achievements for granted. “They are the great ambassadors of Uganda, showcasing our talent and resilience on the world stage,” Obua emphasized.

Looking to the future, Rt Hon Obua called for early and comprehensive preparations to ensure Uganda’s representation in a broader range of sporting disciplines at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

He highlighted the need to support athletes in sports such as boxing, archery, weightlifting, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, rugby, golf, and fencing, among others.

“The success of Cheptegei and Chemutai should inspire us to invest more in our athletes and diversify the sports in which Uganda competes internationally,” Obua said.

He urged the government, sports federations, and the private sector to come together and develop strategies that will elevate Uganda’s presence and performance in future Olympics.

Rt Hon Hamson Obua’s remarks underscore the importance of recognizing and celebrating Uganda’s sporting heroes while also planning for future success.

As Uganda reflects on its performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the focus must now shift to preparing for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, ensuring that the nation continues to shine on the global stage in Los Angeles 2028 and beyond.