Ogwang dangles Shs100m gold bonus for Team Uganda ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Uganda’s athletes heading to the 2026 Commonwealth Games have been promised a handsome reward should they return with medals.

State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang announced that every Ugandan athlete who wins a gold medal in Glasgow will receive Shs100 million, with silver medalists earning Shs50 million and bronze medalists Shs30 million.

The announcement was made on Thursday during the official flag-off of Team Uganda at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja was the chief guest, while National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Dr Bernard Ogwel and officials from various sports federations also attended.

Ogwang challenged the athletes to build on Uganda’s impressive Commonwealth Games record, assuring them that government had fully funded the team’s preparations and participation.

“We need medals,” he said. “The money is available.”

He also reminded the athletes that Commonwealth Games medalists qualify for government monthly rewards of Shs5 million for gold, Shs3 million for silver and Shs1 million for bronze, under the national sports rewards scheme.

Uganda will send 55 athletes, including five para athletes, to the Games in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. The delegation comprises 34 women and 21 men, competing in athletics, boxing, basketball 3×3, judo, netball, swimming, para swimming, track cycling, weightlifting and para powerlifting.

Athletics remains Uganda’s strongest medal prospect, with Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai returning as the country’s only medalist from the Birmingham 2022 Games. The athletics squad also includes Oscar Chelimo, Halimah Nakayi, Rebecca Chelangat, Dan Kibet and Kenneth Kiprop.

The women’s 3×3 basketball team and Uganda’s judo team will make their Commonwealth Games debut, while the She Cranes return after finishing fifth in Birmingham. Seven members of the current netball squad have previous Commonwealth Games experience.

Some athletes, including swimmers Jesse Ssengonzi and Jordan Samula, are based in the United States, while Gloria Muzito will travel from Europe to join the team in Glasgow.

Ogwang said Uganda has competed at every Commonwealth Games since its debut in 1954 and has won 58 medals;19 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze all from athletics and boxing.

Uganda Final Commonwealth Games Team Confirmed

Athletics

Women

1. Leni Shida – 400m
2. Esther Chebet – 5,000m
3. Maureen Banura – 400m
4. Chebet Maureen – 800m
5. Halimah Nakayi – 800m
6. Peruth Chemutai – 3,000m Steeplechase
7. Joy Cheptoyek – 10,000m
8. Rebecca Chelangat – 10,000m

Men

1. Dan Kibet – 5,000m, 10,000m
2. Adoli Haron – 400m
3. Samuel Simba Cherop – 10,000m
4. Dominic Krop – Mile
5. Silas Chemutai – Mile
6. Kenneth Kiprop – 5,000m, 10,000m
7. Eric Okwi – 400m
8. Oscar Chelimo – 5,000m
9. David Berkham Otim – Long Jump

Mixed 4x400m Relay

• Maureen Banura
• Eric Okwi
• Adoli Haron
• Leni Shida

Basketball 3×3 (Women)

1. Melissa Akullu
2. Jamila “Zama” Nansikombi
3. Jane Asinde
4. Perus Nyamwenge

Track Cycling

1. Charles Kagimu

Boxing (Bombers)

Women

1. Emily Nakalema – Welterweight (65kg)
2. Angel Katushabe – Flyweight (51kg)

Men

1. Ibrahim Kemis – Lightweight (60kg)
2. Bate Nuhu – Welterweight (65kg)
3. Alfred Ojok – Light Heavyweight (80kg)
4. Abdul Aziz – Heavyweight (92kg)

Weightlifting

Men’s 55kg

• Davis Niyoyita (Africa’s No. 2 ranked lifter)
  • Snatch: 100kg
  • Clean and Jerk: 130kg
  • Target Total: 230kg

Swimming

Men

1. Jesse Ssengonzi – 50m Butterfly, 100m Butterfly
2. Tendo Mukalazi – 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 100m Freestyle
3. Tendo Kawumi – 50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly
4. Jordan Samula – 50m Breaststroke, 100m Breaststroke, 100m Butterfly, 200m Breaststroke

Women

1. Gloria Muzito – 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 200m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly
2. Kirabo Namutebi – 50m Freestyle, 50m Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly
3. Tara Naluwoza – 100m Freestyle, 50m Backstroke

Para Swimming

1. Husnah Kukundakwe – SB8 100m Breaststroke, S9 100m Freestyle
2. Condoleeza Nakazibwe – S9 100m Freestyle

Para Powerlifting

(The team departed on Wednesday, July 15.)

1. Denis Mbaziira – Heavyweight (72kg)
2. Janet Nakayobyo – Lightweight
3. Rebecca Zawedde – Heavyweight

Netball – She Cranes

(The team is currently in South Africa.)

Players

Forwards

1. Mary Nuba
2. Rachel Nanyonga
3. Shadiah Nassanga
4. Alice Isoto

Mid Court
5. Margaret Bagala
6. Mercy Batamuliza
7. Joan Ryekoboth
8. Lilian Achola

Defenders
9. Gloria Ayaa
10. Hanisha Muhameed
11. Nasimu Mutesi
12. Shafie Nalwanja

Coaches

• Rashid Mubiru
• Ruth Meeme

Netball Competition

Group B

Uganda’s netball team has learned its group-stage schedule for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where it will face five challenging opponents in successive matches.

The She Cranes will open their campaign against Wales on July 25 before taking on Trinidad and Tobago on July 26. They will then face Jamaica on July 27, New Zealand on July 28, and conclude their group-stage fixtures against Scotland on July 29.

Uganda Fixtures

• July 25: Wales vs Uganda
• July 26: Uganda vs Trinidad and Tobago
• July 27: Uganda vs Jamaica
• July 28: Uganda vs New Zealand
• July 29: Scotland vs Uganda

Group A

• Australia
• England
• South Africa
• Malawi
• Tonga
• Northern Ireland

Meanwhile, Uganda’s swimming team will be strengthened by three overseas-based athletes. Jesse Ssengonzi and Jordan Samula, who are both based in the United States, together with Europe-based Gloria Muzito, are expected to join the national team in Glasgow ahead of the competition.

Uganda heads into the Games hoping to build on its impressive performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the country fielded its largest-ever contingent of 72 athletes. The team returned with five medals three gold and two bronze to finish 16th overall on the medal table.