Who are Uganda’s ISF gold medal hopefuls as 42 athletes storm France?

Uganda Secondary Schools Sports Associations (USSSA) is ready for the 19th edition of the International School Sports Federation (ISF) games due in Normandy, France starting this Saturday.

Uganda will send 42 athletes, the biggest number the country has ever sent to the past international schools' championships, and expectations are high that these athletes will do well just like in the past events Uganda has taken part in.

Promising long-distance runner Loice Chekwemoi, returns to the team after her heroics in Slovakia last month, while Olympiad Namutebi Kirabo highlights Uganda’s intentions to break the swimming jinx as she makes the team to Normandy too.

Chekwemoi is arguably the most promising young female athlete Uganda is looking at, after her consistency in the last two years, and is Uganda’s leading hope for a gold or two in France.

The 16-year-old will be chasing her 3rd international gold after winning one in 1500m in last year’s ISF U15 games in Belgrade.

She will be the major hope for Uganda in a team of 8 girls and 8 boys, and with ISF 1500m gold medalist Victor Cherotich on the team too, Uganda will have the strongest athletics team to compete for medals.

Maureen Chebet who settled for bronze in Slovakia is on the team too together with Edith Chebet and  Financia Chepkwemboi whose performances in Slovakia were hampered by the weather.

Slovakia silver and bronze medalists in Dolphine Chelimo and Abel Chebet and fifth-placed Naido Krop Dominic will beef up Cherotich to hunt for the boys’ medals.

Meanwhile, swimmer Namutebi Kirabo will be among the contenders for a podium finish at the games.

She goes as the most exposed athlete, having participated at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan last year where she recorded personal best results.

Before the Olympics, Namutebi had participated in the 2019 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in the 50 metres freestyle, where she broke the Ugandan national record with a time of 26.98.

The 17-year-old is arguably the most successful Ugandan swimmer, having put up an outstanding performance in the CANA Zone IV swimming championship in Gaborone, Botswana where she won 5 medals.

Uganda's team to France

Basketball 3*3-Girls-Sarah Namale (Nabisunsa Girls), Mariam Patience Karungi (Nabisunsa), Sheila Lamunu Aber (Buddo SS) and Darliene Tashobya Murungi (Vine International School)

Boys-Mathew Kisakye (Kibuli), Ethan Bulenzi (Eureke School), Emmanuel Junior Omara (Hope SS Nakirebe) and Shane Favour Birungi (Kampala International School)

Swimming-Boys-Namanya Nimusiima Ampaire (Greehill Academy), John Kafumbe (Heritage International School), Jordan Paulson Settumba (Aga Khan School) and Joshua Lumonya Elijah Wabwire (Aga Khan School)

Girls-Esther Daisy Atto (Greenhill Academy), Swagiah Mubiru (Aga Khan School), Karla Princes Mugisha (Greenhill Academy) and Namutebi Kirabo (British School of Kampala)

Badminton-Boys-Paul Muwonge Makande (Kakungulu Memorial) and Abed Musa Bukenya (Kabojja International).

Girls.Mohamed Rafi Fadilah Shamika (Rubaga Girls) and Justine Tracy Naluwoza (Mbogo High)

Table Tennis-Boys-Phillip Napookoli (Kibuli SS), Dennis Waswa Kikomeko (Mbogo College) and Desire Tendo Kasoma (St Michael International)

Girls-Flavia Amaniyo (St Michael International), Astolo Halima (Mbogo College) and Shanitah Namaala (Mbogo College)

Athletics-Boys-Rajab Ibrahim Lomutho (Standard High), Fred Ambayo (Nampunge Community school), Raymond Omara (Luigi Giussani School), Elisha Yeko (Kapchorwa SS), Victor Cherotich (Chemwania High School), Dominic Naido Klop (Standard High Zzana), Abel Chebet (Kapchorwa SS) and Dolphin Chelimo (Chemwania High)

Girls-Christine Nyawere (Old Kampala), Sandra Abalo (Old Kampala), Ash Nambogwe Babwona (Jinja SS), Financia Chekwemoi (Chemwania High), Loice Chekwemoi (Chemwania High), Priscilla Akello (Standard High), Edith Chebet (Kitowoi Seed School) and Maurine Chebet (Chemwania High)