By: Kayiira Jackson
As it’s their norm, Uganda Olympic Committee have highlighted the year 2024 and hinted on what they expect to do in 2025.
The Committee’s president Dr. Donald Rukare addressed the year ender presser on Monday at Uganda Olympic Committee head office in Lugogo and hinted on need for mental coaches to the countries athletes.
While giving his speech, Rukare used the example of She Cranes,the National netball team that finished second in the 2024 Africa Netball Championship held in Namibia. Rukare asked that what beat Uganda not winning the gold medal, it was phycological not fitness and what the media wrote.
“We need mental coaches.” Rukare stated. “these girls who went to Namibia (She Cranes), all eyes were on them, they went as no.1 in Africa, that is not something light, every team wanted to beat them, so they needed more than technical coaches.”
“I saw media writing, you focused on other areas,……it’s a big thing, so what we are hoping for is to have a conversation to prepare and invest in these areas; nutrition, injury prevention but also these days, mental, a person like Joshua (Cheptegei) and Jacob (Kiprimo), at the point now they have reached is in the head, if up here (mental) goes, they will be finished, so we need mental coaches to handle our athletes.” Dr. Donald Rukare emphasized
Rukare went on to highlight on the achievements of the committee in the year and he has said that they have achieved at least 98% of what they have planned to do in the year.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were a crowning moment for Uganda, where the golden stride of Joshua Cheptegei in the 10,000m and the silver glory of Peruth Chemutai in the 3000m steeplechase illuminated the global stage. At the Africa Games in Ghana, Uganda’s athletic warriors brought home 20 medals, standing proud as the 13th-ranked nation among 54 competitors. But the UOC didn’t stop at athletic feats—it also laid the foundation for one of the world’s largest Olympic Forests, a 1500-acre testament to the power of sports in driving environmental stewardship.
“We’re not just chasing medals; we’re planting seeds for a sustainable future,” said Dr. Donald Rukare, the visionary UOC president.
Yet, 2024 was not without its trials. Government funding, heavily skewed toward football preparations for CHAN 2025 and AFCON 2027, left other sports grappling for resources. The UOC also faced the delicate task of aligning with the International Olympic Committee’s mandate to exclude the Uganda Boxing Federation due to its affiliation with the now-discredited International Boxing Association (IBA). “Adherence to global standards is non-negotiable. While the situation is complex, we must uphold the integrity of the Olympic family,” Dr. Rukare remarked with conviction.
The 2025 strategic plan:
As 2025 dawns, the UOC is poised to write an even bolder chapter. Plans to expand partnerships with corporate and international stakeholders, advocate for equitable sports funding, and intensify grassroots capacity building are in motion. Amidst it all, the UOC remains steadfast in its mission to elevate Uganda’s sporting legacy. “The road ahead may be winding, but with every step, we inch closer to greatness. Together, we can ensure that the spirit of Ugandan sports shines brighter than ever,” Dr. Rukare concluded, extending his gratitude to the government, federations, and collaborators who have fueled this extraordinary journey.
With audacious goals and an unyielding spirit, the UOC promises that 2025 will not just be a year—it will be a statement.
