International Olympic Committee (IOC) development consultant Robert Mutsauki has facilitated the process and claimed Uganda could target a number of medals at the 2024 Olympic Games if a proposed strategic plan is formulated and implemented.

Speaking during the closure of the recent UOC strategic planning workshop in Kampala, the former chief executive of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee claimed he has helped to deliver impressive results for several other countries in the past, including his native Zimbabwe.

Uganda has won just seven Olympics medals, two of them gold, since competing at the Games for the first time at Melbourne in 1956.

Stephen Kiprotich won the men’s marathon at London 2012 to secure Uganda’s first Olympic gold in 40 years and with better planning and more Government support, Mutsauki believes Uganda can become a sporting giant and produce more medals in years to come.

"Uganda might not be a very rich country but you have the talent to make you the best," said Mutsauki.

"There are countries that have money but can’t excel in sports because of poor administration and lack of planning.

"All Uganda needs to do is implement this strategic plan to the dot.

"It will change things tremendously."

Uganda’s best Olympic performance came at Munich 1972 where John Akii-Bua won the 400 metre hurdles gold in a world record time of 47.82sec and boxer Leo Rwabwogo claimed a silver medal in the flyweight division. 

Four years earlier in Mexico City, had Rwabwogo opened Uganda’s Olympic account with bronze, while fellow boxer Eridadi Mukwanga secured a silver medal in the the bantamweight division. 

There was also a silver medal for John Mugabi in welterweight boxing at Moscow 1980 and bronze for 400m hurdler Davis Kamoga at Atlanta 1996.

"Uganda used to do so well in boxing and athletics," added Mutsauki, technical director of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) between 2011 and 2014.

"For some years now, however, boxing standards have dropped.

"As a country you need to examine where you went wrong and rebuild."

All Federations affiliated to the UOC and the National Council For Sports Uganda participated in the formulation of the strategic plan, which is still in draft format.

UOC President William Blick now wants Ugandan sport to embrace the ambition.

"Since we now have a framework, I expect all Federations to use it to put in place their own strategic plans," he said.

"After, we can fuse them and work towards one goal.

"This habit of expecting athletes to perform miracles must stop.

"We need to put structures in place for them to excel.

"If we implement whatever we have set out to do, I believe we can be better than any other country in Africa."

In June of this year, the UOC revealed they are to direct resources towards sports where the country has more medal potential in an attempt to boost their tallies at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

The Commonwealth Games have seen the country earn 39 medals in total, with athletics and boxing again accounting for every medal.


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