The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
PHOTO CREDIT Erik van Leeuwen
The world’s focus turns to Brazil from Friday 23.00GMT (Saturday 02.00am Uganda) when the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics starts.
Even though the nations will be read out in Portuguese alphabetical order, Uganda will still be among the last nations to enter the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro – in 200th place out of 209.
The event will combine a formal ceremonial opening, including welcoming speeches, hoisting of the flags and the parade of athletes and an artistic spectacle to showcase the host nation’s culture.
Under the games’ protocol, Greece always marches first while the host country always goes last. For the rest, the parade follows alphabetical order in the local tongue—in the case of the Rio games, Portuguese. South Africa (“Africa do Sul”) moves up to the front while Uganda moves into an even later position.
Uganda will have a lean team at the opening ceremony, as the bulk of the team, the track and field team are still in Uganda. The second batch of 14 leave on Sunday, while the marathoners including Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich leave a week later.
First Ugandan in action
First in action for team Uganda will be light heavyweight boxer Kennedy Katende who climbs into the ring on Sunday August 7 (7pm Uganda time) against Joshua Buatasi of Great Britain. He will be followed 40 minutes later by swimmer Jamila Lunkuse who dives into the pool for the 100m breaststroke Heat 2 on Sunday August 7.
Uganda’s schedule in Rio
Opening ceremony
Friday, August 5 2016 (Saturday 2.00am Uganda time)
Uganda’s flag bearer
Swimmer – Joshua Ekirikubinza
Uganda’s Boxing schedule
Kennedy Katende Men’s light vs Britain’s Joshua Buatazi heavyweight August 7
Ronald Serugo Men’s flyweight vs Narek Abgaryan of Armenia August 13
Uganda’s Swimming schedule
Sunday August 7
Jamila Lunkuse 100m breaststroke
Thursday August 11
Joshua Ekirikubinza Men’s 50 m freestyle
Uganda’s Athletics schedule
Friday August 12 Day 7
Women’s 10000m women final
Saturday August 13 Day 8
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase round 1
10000m men final
Sunday August 14 Day 9
Women’s marathon
Monday August 15 Day 10
Men’s 3000m steeplechase round 1
Women 3000m steeplecahse final
Tuesday August 16 Day 11
Women’s 5000m round 1
Men’s 1500m round 1
Wed August 17 Day Day 12
Men’s 5000m round 1
women’s 800m round 1
Men’s steeplecahse final
Thursday August 18 Day 13
Men’s 1500m semifinal
Men’s 800m semifinal
Friday August 19 Day 14
women’s 5000m final
Saturday August 20 Day 15
Men’s 1500m final
Women’s 800m final
Men’s 5000m final
Sunday August 21 Day 16
Men’s Marathon final
Uganda’s team to Rio comprises 17 track and field athletes, two swimmers and two boxers. Swimmers are Jamila Lunkuse 100m breaststroke, Joshua Ekirikubinza Men’s 50 m freestyle and boxers Kennedy Katende light heavyweight, Ronald Serugo flyweight.
Athletics has Juliet Chekwel 5000m/10000m; Stella Chesang 5000m; Peruth Chemutai 3000m steeplechase; Halimah Nakaayi, Winnie Nanyondo 800m; Adero Nyakisi marathon; Jacob Araptany and Benjamin Kiplagat 3000 m steeplechase; Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei 5000m/ 10000 m; Phillip Kipyego and Jacob Kiplimo 5000m; Jackson Kiprop, Stephen Kiprotich, Solomon Mutai Marathon; Ronald Musagala 1500m; Moses Kurong and Timothy Toroitich 10000m
Nineteen-year-old Cheptegei, has one of the fastest times in the world this year in the 5000m of 13:00.60 .
Kiprotich ended Uganda’s 40-year wait for an Olympic gold medal when he stunned Kenyans Abel Kirui and Wilson Kipsang to win the Marathon in London. Kiprotich became only the second Ugandan to win an Olympic gold medal after John Akii-Bua in Munich 1972.
Uganda’s history at the game
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 1956 Melbourne |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 1960 Rome |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 1964 Tokyo |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 1968 Mexico City |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 1972 Munich |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
 1976 Montreal |
did not participate | |||
 1980 Moscow |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 1984 Los Angeles |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 1988 Seoul |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 1992 Barcelona |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Atlanta |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 Sydney |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 2004 Athens |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 2008 Beijing |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 2012 London |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
Medals by sport
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Athletics |
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
 Boxing |
0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Total | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
List of medalists
| Medal | Name | Games | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Silver |
Eridadi Mukwanga | 1968 Mexico City |
 Boxing |
Men’s bantamweight |
 Bronze |
Leo Rwabwogo | 1968 Mexico City |
Boxing |
Men’s flyweight |
 Gold |
John Akii-Bua | 1972 Munich |
 Athletics |
Men’s 400 metre hurdles |
| Silver |
Leo Rwabwogo | 1972 Munich |
Boxing |
Men’s flyweight |
| Silver |
John Mugabi | 1980 Moscow |
Boxing |
Men’s welterweight |
| Bronze |
Davis Kamoga | 1996 Atlanta |
Athletics |
Men’s 400 metres |
| Gold |
Stephen Kiprotich | 2012 London |
Athletics |
Men’s marathon |
****
What others are up to:
China’s policeman
China has sent a policeman to the Rio Olympics to help protect its sporting delegation, media and travelling spectators, state-media said Thursday, after a Chinese hurdler said he had been robbed.
The policeman named Shao Weimin, whose official title is temporary police communication officer, arrived in Rio two months ago to prepare for his role, the Beijing News reported.
No Pele show
Brazil football legend Pele said poor health will prevent him from lighting the Olympic cauldron at the Games’ opening ceremony on Friday as he had hoped to do.
“Dear friends, only God is more important than my health!” the 75-year-old said in a statement published by Brazilian media.
Protests
Thousands of Brazilians launched angry anti-Olympics protests hours before Friday’s Rio Games opening ceremony in fury at political scandals rattling the host country and the billions spent on the event.
Waving signs reading “No to the Olympics!”, a crowd of about 3,000 blocked an avenue outside the luxury Copacabana Palace Hotel where many Olympic athletes are staying.
Moroccan boxer held
Brazilian police arrested a Moroccan Olympic boxer on Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting two female cleaners in the athletes’ village in Rio de Janeiro.
Officers arrested Hassan Saada, 22, from Casablanca, on suspicion of committing the assault on Wednesday, said a police statement released hours ahead of the Games’ opening ceremony.
US agents all eyes
They stand discreetly in the shadows, eyes keenly on the look-out, as women’s world number one tennis star Serena Williams perfects her blistering forehand at the Rio Olympics.
Their presence is low key, but the United States has a team of Diplomatic Security (DS) personnel in Brazil serving in support roles with under-the-cosh local forces.
Security has been a major talking point at the Games, which officially open on Friday, with athletes, officials, fans and media from numerous countries reporting they have been victims of crime.
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Opening ceremony
