Legendary Kamoga deserves his medal
Monday morning found me in downtown Atlanta touring the Turner Field, which hosted the 1996 Olympiad as the Centennial Olympic stadium.
The Turner Field, which was turned into a baseball stadium in 1997 and played host to the Major League Baseball franchise Atlanta Braves until this year, was the scene of Uganda’s second-ever track medal 20 years ago. Davis Kamoga raced to 400m bronze in a time of 44.53, finishing behind Great Britain’s Roger Black and the impregnable Michael Johnson who posted 44.41 and 43.49 respectively.
One year later, Kamoga went one better by winning silver at the 1997 World Championships with a personal time of 44.37. It remains a national record and the fourth best-ever time on the continent over the quarter mile.
While Atlanta continues to preserve the memory of the last Olympics on US soil whose Games are famously remembered for having Muhammad Ali light up the Olympic torch, Uganda is doing a fine job of consigning Kamoga to the history bin. For sheer sporting achievement, Kamoga is the third greatest track and field Ugandan athlete of all time by virtue of winning Uganda Oympic bronze. Only Stephen Kiprotich and John Akii-Bua are greater.
How he has never been considered for a medal in recognition of his sporting feat beggars belief.
Kamoga has for years privately wondered why he has never earned his due recognition.
And he is right to ponder that question given that Uganda is not a country famed for producing world renown sporting achievement. Other Olympic medalists like boxers Eridardi Mukwanga and Leo Rwabongo passed away with little, if not no recognition.
In 2007, we were the rugby champions of Africa. This year our 7s team were crowned Africa rugby champions. Both feats will be swept into oblivion because we somehow always ignore our true heroes.
It is strange that Atlanta carved Kamoga but Uganda has forgotten its own.
Mourning Ligyalingi Snr, Eng Azuba
The week has been a somber one for the gentleman’s game of cricket.First Justine Ezra Ligyalingi Snr perished in a nasty accident in Magamaga. The accident claimed his wife (Florence) too. Ligyalingi Snr was not just a father of one of the country’s most outstanding sports administrators Justine Ligyalingi Jr; he was a man who championed sport all his life.
He (Ligyalingi Snr) was the very embodiment of the ethos of sport, a hardworking gentleman who never tired in inspiring youngsters into embracing and shining in all sports and not just cricket for which he was commonly known for.
He committed his life to sport and had a significant role in the careers of several national champions such as the legendary Sam Walusimbi.
‘His passing leaves a gaping hole’ is an adage so often misused in grief, but in the case of Ligyalingi Snr his death has truly left a yawning chasm in sport in the country. It is curious that men like Ligyalingi have never been honoured for their dedicated loyalty to sport. It is a shame.
Just as we were still internalising the tragedy that befell Mr and Mrs Ligyalingi Snr, news filtered through that former Uganda Cricket Association Engineer Chris Henry Azuba had succumbed to organ failure.
Azuba’s service to cricket never wavered even after his health deteriorated and he remained a crucial servant of the game.
Azuba served in nearly all levels of cricket and left an imprint with his passion, love and devotion to its development in the country.
Ligyalingi Snr and Azuba were genuine giants of sports administration. May their souls rest in eternal peace.
400m
Kamoga raced to 400m bronze in 44.53, finishing behind UK’s Roger Black And the impregnable Michael Johnson of USA.
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