Denis Onyango is Uganda’s Sports Personality Of The Year

Kampala, Uganda| THE INDEPENDENT REPORTER | Cranes goalkeeper Denis Onyango is Uganda’s Sports Personality Of The Year 2016.

Onyango was named the country’s best at a glitz and glamour event Friday night by the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA).

The South African based goalkeeper becomes the first individual footballer to be crowned at the prestigious sports press annual event since the inaugural edition in 1974, when legend Polly Ouma was named best sportsman of the year.

The award caps a great year for Onyango, who in January was named Africa’s best home-based football player of 2016. It was also a year when he helped Uganda Cranes qualify for their first Africa Cup of Nations finals in 38 years, and led his South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to the African title and to the World club cup.

Onyango took most votes from Uganda’s sports press, edging out Olympian Emong and rugby player Phillip Wokorach. USPA named Emong and Wokorach top in their individual sports in 2016.

The awards are one of Uganda’s oldest, with USPA having annually awarded the best since the early 70s. Sabiiti Muwanga, an editor at Vision Group, is the President USPA.

Museveni gives USPA SACCO sh30m

Maj General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Senior Presidential Advisor, was chief guest at the  sh100m Nile Breweries sponsered USPA gala at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala. NSSF are USPA’s other main partners at the glamarous awards ceremony.

He hailed USPA for their exemplary performance and for attracting sponsors like Nile Breweries, NSSF and City Tyres.  He also said it is important USPA continues giving prominence to sports achievement, as it helps improve the wellbeing of youth, and gives them an opportunity to make a mark in life.

“It is good many young Ugandans are into sports. Sports is not only a big business, but improves your health,” he said. (see tweets page 2)

Kainerugaba recognised USPA’s effort at being self-sustaining by starting a savings scheme (SACCO), and announced that President Yoweri Museveni has boosted the initiative with sh30 million.

Previous winners of the prestigious USPA award include athletics legends Ruth Kyalisima, Justin Arop, Francis Ogola, Julius Oacon, Dorcus Inzikuru, Moses Kipsiro and Stephen Kiprotich.

The Uganda Cranes team were crowned in 1989 and 1990.

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USPA SPORTS PERSONALITIES OF 2016

 Sports Personality of the year

Denis Onyango (Football)

Team of the year

Uganda Cranes

Sports Event of the year

National Open Pool Championship

Best Run federation 2016

Uganda Cricket Association

The USPA LEGEND AWARD – SHEILA AGONZIBWE

Winners in respective sports disciplines

Athletics

Male: David Emong

Female: Juliet Chekwel

Boxing

Shadir Musa

Football

Denis Onyango

Women Football

Hasfa Nassuna

Motorsport(Rallying)

 The crew of Jas Mangat and Joseph Kamya

Golf

Male: Ronald Otile

Female: Flavia Namakula

Cricket

Male: Henry Ssenyondo

Female: Stephanie Nampina

Pool

Male: Sula Matovu

Female: Vicky Namuyanja

Bobybuilding

Andrew Ssenoga

Badminton

Male: Brian Kasirye

Female: Shamim Bangi

Table Tennis

Male: Gilton Chelibe

Female: Halima Nambozo

Woodball

Male: Onesmus Atamba

Female: Lillian Zawedde

Weightlifting

Khalid Batuusa