Olympic Champion Joshua Cheptegei has challenged Uganda Government over inadequate funding of Uganda Athletics.
The Greatest of All Times (G.O.A.T) athlete made the remarks at the Uganda Athletics (UA) ceremony to receive the 19 – national team contingent that participated at the 2026 Copenhagen World Athletics Road Running Championships on September 19-20, Denmark.
Cheptegei who captained the team in Copenhagen was appalled by the government inadequate funding of athletics which is threatening to affect current and future performances.
“No doubt, athletics is Uganda’s golden sport that continues to win us medals in world competitions. It’s unfortunate it’s under funded and yet government and Ugandans expect too much from the sport.
“The situation is alarming. We have been doing well but now looks like we are going backwards.
” Imagine Uganda expecting medals but you can’t fund team residential training preparations for this championships.
“I think the country needs to have a honest conversation over the funding visa a vis the results athletics brings home,” said the three-time 10,000m World Champion said.
Welcoming back the team, UA President Domenic Otucet was overjoyed by the general team performances which included individual athletes registering Seasonal and Personal Best times despite the challenges that curtailed the preparations.
He also reiterated the cry for government funding intervention and said the country has great potential to produce and sustain the desired results should government triple the athletics budget.
” Many countries which include our rivals Kenya and Ethiopia inject huge resources in athletics that is why they continue to reign in the world.
” UA has a deliberate strategic plan with structures to execute the talent identification, development and promotion of all age-categories right from Kids Athletics, U15 – U20 programs towards sustainable global performances. Provide more fundings and get the desired results,” Otucet said.
Cheptegei won a bronze medal in half marathon in Personal Best time 58.26 blamed on a foot injury sustained prior to the race.
Uganda finished 4th overall out of 21 countries that participated.
The country was represented by 16 athletes who competed in One mile, 5km and half marathon (21km) respectively
