Queens Baton excites kids, going to Bombo

Hundreds of kids that rarely share smiles with colleagues due to their disadvantaged backgrounds, had a day to remember on Thursday when the Baton their spacious campus in Mpigi.

Kampala

The Queens Baton Relay Ugandan leg climaxes this evening and many if not all participants will have tales to tell for years to come. From the Equator to Suubi Watoto along Kampala-Masaka Road and Mildmay on Entebbe Road, the Baton created excitement which rivals that created by the New Year.

Hundreds of kids that rarely share smiles with colleagues due to their disadvantaged backgrounds, had a day to remember on Thursday when the Baton their spacious campus in Mpigi. They ran with the Baton for close to 8km and never showed any signs of fatigue and seemed to enjoy every bit of the event. The Baton also visited Kasubi Tombs, Mayor’s Gardens, Indian High Commission, Kampala Club and Namboole Stadium where many overnight worshippers got a chance to hold it.

Today, the most exciting run is expected in Bombo where UPDF Lands Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Katumba Wamala will lead several other army officers as they race with the Baton along Kampala-Gulu highway and take it around Barracks. Wamala has a soft spot for running having been a common figure in the MTN Kampala marathon.

Govt’s promise
Meanwhile, athletes traveling to this year’s Commonwealth Games will have only themselves to blame if they fail to perform well. Sports minister Charles Bakkabulindi has assured that the athletes will be fully facilitated to compete in New Delhi, India in October. “We budgeted for those games and Uganda will definitely have representatives in India,” Bakkabulindi asserted while officiating at several functions for the Queen’s Baton Relay.

Bakkabulindi received the Baton at Entebbe Airport on Wednesday evening and was chief guest as it made its way to the Indian High Commission on Thursday night. “I hope this marks the start of our journey to the Commonwealth Games,” Bakkabulindi noted. Uganda won an impressive two gold medals at the last edition in Melbourne, Australia and there is hope that the country can go one better in India.
Dorcus Inzikuru and Boniface Kiprop were the heroes.