Negesa named on World University squad

Negesa (C) participates in a past competition

What you need to know:

The All Africa Games 800m gold medallist has just returned from injury and struggled to impress at last weekend’s National Cross-country Championships at Jinja Chairman’s Park.

Kampala- Out of form Annet Negesa has been named on Uganda’s team for the World University Cross-ountry Championships due next month at Entebbe Golf Course.

The All Africa Games 800m gold medallist has just returned from injury and struggled to impress at last weekend’s National Cross-country Championships at Jinja Chairman’s Park.

“I still have some time to train and I should be in good shape by March,” Negesa said. “I am training very hard.”

If she gets back in shape, Kampala University’s Negesa will lead seven other female runners as they carry Uganda’s flag at the event to be hosted in the country for the first time. Winnie Nannyondo, another Kampala University student, Prim Twikirize (Ndejje), Annet Chebet (Ndejje) and Lillian Anjaz from Bugema University are also on the squad.
Dorcus Ajok from Ndejje, Halima Nakayi (KU) and Makerere’s Stella Akidi) are the others.
The men’s team has Bugema’s Joshua Cheptegei, Martin Chemtingen (KU), Benjamin Njia (Makerere), Julius Ocheng (KU), Sam Cherop (KU), Edward Mukasa (UCU) and Herbert Gidagui from Makerere.

Kennedy Nuwahereza (UCU), Ballon Kwesiga (Nkumba) and Allan Makweta (Kyambogo) complete the men’s team. While Ndejje, who won the National University Games in December dominate the women’s team, they don’t have a representative on the men’s side.

A total of 35 countries including China, Australia, Canada, France, Sierra Leone, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Oman, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Srilanka and Kenya among others have so far confirmed participation.

The National University Sports Federation of Uganda (Nusfu), organisers of the event, are however grappling with shortage of funds.

Nusfu president Peninah Kabenge recently told the media they require Shs600m to stage a successful showpiece.