Namboole revival draws foreign athletes, elevates Uganda’s athletics

With the reopening of Namboole Stadium and the installation of a world-class running track, Uganda’s national athletics trials are poised to attract a growing number of foreign athletes.

This trend was already evident on Saturday, as the season’s first national trial featured four elite Kenyan track and field competitors: sprinters Wiseman Mukhobe, Dan Kiviasi, and Babu Meshack, alongside javelin thrower Boniface Kilonzo.

Their participation marks a significant shift for Uganda’s athletics landscape, which has historically seen its middle-distance and sprint athletes travel to Kenya for better training and qualification opportunities.

Now, with a state-of-the-art track, Uganda can host top-tier athletes from across the region, raising the competition level and providing more local athletes with the chance to meet qualification standards for major continental and global championships.

Wiseman Mukhobe, fresh from his impressive performance in the 2024 Olympic Games 400m hurdles semifinals, praised the opportunity to compete in Uganda.

“It feels great to race here because it fosters unity in athletics. Track and field thrives on sportsmanship, and it’s exciting to see athletes from different countries competing together. I hope more Kenyans will come for future events,” Mukhobe said.

His coach, Denis Mwanzo, noted that the ongoing renovations at Kenya’s Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations make Uganda an ideal alternative for training and competition.

“With our main stadiums currently unavailable, coming to Uganda for qualification events makes perfect sense. The facilities here are excellent, and we’re very pleased with our athletes’ performances. I expect even more participants in the next trials,” Mwanzo explained.

Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) Vice President Lawrence Kavuma emphasized the financial benefits of hosting trials at Namboole.

“In the past, we had to send athletes abroad for qualification events, but financial constraints limited how many we could support. Now, with a high-quality track at home, more Ugandan athletes can compete and qualify for international meets,” Kavuma said.

With the next National Athletics Championship scheduled for March 15, organizers anticipate an even larger turnout of foreign athletes, further elevating the competition and helping Ugandan athletes achieve record-breaking performances on home soil.