Families denied entry to receive their heroes

Palpable emotion. An excited elderly woman celebrates the athletes arrival while wearing a replica track medal. PHOTO BY ISMAIL KEZAALA

Kampala.

Families and friends of athletes from the Sebei region had a day to forget after they were blocked by security operatives from accessing the VVIP terminal at Entebbe Airport as the team returned from the Commonwealth Games yesterday.
The big group of about 100 people, who travelled from Kween, Kapchorwa and Bukwo, as early as 1am, had hopes of seeing their sons and daughters as they touched down.
But to their dismay, they were told by security agencies manning the airport and the First Lady Janet Museveni’s detail that they were not on the lists permitted entry.
Some of these included 5000m and 10000m gold medalist Joshua Cheptegei’s wife and women’s 10000m champion Stella Chesang’s parents.
This caused a stand-off between security and the families of athletes which ignited a war of words at the gates.
Later they were allowed access to the old airport terminal where the First Lady was receiving the athletes. But more fracas took place amid delight at the tarmac. ​