Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Uganda wrapped up the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh with a spirited and memorable performance, led by stunning achievements in swimming, athletics, and boxing. The Games not only showcased Uganda’s athletic depth but also highlighted the country’s growing influence on the international sports stage.
Swimming provided some of Uganda’s brightest moments. Jesse Ssuubi Ssengonzi powered to a bronze medal in the men’s 100m butterfly, touching the wall in 53.45 seconds behind Uzbekistan’s Eldorbek Usmonov and Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Mussin. His podium finish marked Uganda’s fourth swimming medal of the tournament. Meanwhile, Hungary-based sensation Anna Gloria Muzito delivered one of the standout performances of the Games. She stormed to gold in the women’s 50m freestyle with a national-record-breaking 25.59 seconds, added another gold in the 100m freestyle, and sealed her campaign with a silver in the 200m freestyle, collecting three medals in total.
Uganda’s athletics team matched that brilliance on the track. Long-distance standout Rebecca Chelangat dominated the women’s 10,000m, winning gold in 32:11.42. World champion Halima Nakaayi added a hard-fought silver in the 800m, while Leni Shida sprinted to bronze in the 400m. Rising star Charity Cherop, only 18, impressed with a silver medal in the 5000m.
In a groundbreaking moment for table tennis, teenagers Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Parvin Nangonzi of Kibuli Secondary School claimed Uganda’s first-ever medal in the sport at the Games. Their bronze, earned after a thrilling quarterfinal win over Azerbaijan, marked a major milestone celebrated by head coach Alvin Katumba.
Boxer Alfred Ojok also contributed to Uganda’s medal haul with a bronze in the light-heavyweight (80 kg) category, underscoring the nation’s growing prowess in the ring.
Beyond the medals, Uganda’s performance in Riyadh strengthened the country’s public diplomacy. Through determination, discipline, and national pride, Team Uganda left a lasting impression, using sport as a powerful tool to elevate the country’s global image.
