Team Uganda eyes Commonwealth medals in Glasglow

What the report says

The Observer reports that Uganda has flagged off a 53-member team for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 2. The delegation is described as the country’s most inclusive Commonwealth Games squad, with 35 women, 18 men and five para-athletes set to compete across 10 sports: para-swimming, para-powerlifting, athletics, 3x3 basketball, boxing, judo, netball, swimming, track cycling and weightlifting.

The report says inclusion is a central theme for both the Games and Uganda’s team. For the first time at a Commonwealth Games, the opening medal event will be in a para-sport, para-powerlifting. At a send-off linked to the British High Commission’s “More in Common” campaign, deputy British High Commissioner Tiffany Kirlew commended the athletes, coaches and families involved in preparing the team.

At the official flag-off in Kampala, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang announced government rewards of Shs 100m for gold medallists, Shs 50m for silver and Shs 30m for bronze. Much of Uganda’s medal expectation is again focused on the Bombers boxing team, reflecting the sport’s historic importance to the country: The Observer reports that boxing accounts for 35 of Uganda’s 47 Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals since 1960.

The six-member boxing squad, coached by Twaib Mayanja after a residential camp at Nakivubo Stadium, is led by captain Bate Nuhu in the 65kg category. Other boxers named are Katushabe Angel, Emily Nakalema, Aziz Ringo, Alfred Ojok and Khemis Ibrahim. Beyond boxing, the Games are presented as a test of Uganda’s broader sporting depth and growing representation.