Adjumani dominates as Uganda launches refugee athletics trials

The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) and Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) have launched national trials for refugee athletes set to represent Uganda at the forthcoming Youth Olympic Games and the Olympic Games.

More than 100 young athletes were selected from four refugee settlements—Kampala, Rwamwanja, Adjumani, and Kyangwali to compete for 10 slots on what will become Uganda's first-ever national refugee athletics team.

The one-day trials, held at Mandela National Stadium (Namboole), featured sprints (100m, 200m, and 400m) and middle-distance races (800m, 1500m, and 3000m) for both boys and girls.

In the 100m races, Florence Kabuo from Rwamwanja took the women's title in 15.31 seconds, while Adjumani's Peter Nyamara clocked 12.32 to win the men's event. Adjumani continued to impress, with Gladys Aniga winning the women's 200m (27.63) and Kampala's Kalume Moise taking the men's category (25.84).

Adjumani maintained its dominance in the 400m races through Nyaluak Biling and Akol Tor Akol, who won the women's and men's categories respectively. However, Rwamwanja and Kyangwali settlements shone in the middle-distance events—Rwamwanja's Masumbe Florence claimed the women's 800m, while Kyangwali's Rashel Dudenge won the 1500m.

Adjumani bounced back in the 3000m races, with Irene Lamuno and Clement Lole taking top honours in the women's and men's categories. Overall, Adjumani Settlement topped the medal tally with 11 victories from 16 categories, followed by Rwamwanja and Kyangwali with two wins each, while Kampala registered one.

The crowd at Namboole was thrilled by the relay races, particularly the 4x100m and 4x400m boys' events, both dominated by Adjumani's quartet of Akol Tor Akol, Mariel Bhut, Tiel Mabil, and James Kenyi.

"This is very inspiring for these athletes. We will continue training them ahead of the final selection next year when Uganda will name its first-ever Olympic refugee team," Barrio said.

He also highlighted the International Olympic Committee's commitment to universality in sports, adding:

"Refugee athletes can't compete for their countries of origin or their host nations, so our mission is to ensure they still have a chance to continue their athletic careers."

UOC President Dr. Donald Rukare lauded the initiative as a step toward social inclusion and healing through sport.

"We've seen immense talent here. Sports play a vital role in restoring hope and supporting the mental and social well-being of refugee communities," he noted.

Milton Chebet, representing the National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Dr. Bernard Ogwel, commended UOC and partners for promoting inclusivity:

"We're witnessing true inclusion in sport, which benefits both refugees and host communities."

The selected athletes will now undergo intensive training ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, next year. The programme also serves as a pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where Uganda aims to field its first refugee athletics team.

Selected winners

100m Final (Girls)

Kabuo Florence (Rwamwanja) 15.31

200m Finals (Girls)

Aniga Gladys (Adjumani) 27.63

400m Final (Girls)

Nyaluak Biling (Adjumani) 1.13.3

800m Finals (Girls)

Masumbe Florence (Rwamwanja) 2.49.60

1500m Finals (Boys)

Riak Biyang (Adjumani) 4.41.9

3000m Final (Boys) 

Clement Lole (Adjumani) 10.08.51