Onyango favourite for 2016 USPA top sports award

Kampala, Uganda| THE INDEPENDENT REPORTER | Africa’s best home-based football player of 2016 Denis Onyango is favourite to be named Uganda’s Sportsman Of The Year 2016 on Friday night.

Onyango, named best African Player of the Year Based in Africa early this year, is one of three nominate for the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Personality Of The Year award.

Others nominated are Olympian Emong and rugby player Phillip Wokorach. USPA has already named them top in their individual sports in 2016.

The Uganda Sports Personality of the Year will be announced at the  sh100m Nile Breweries sponsered USPA gala at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala Friday. NSSF are USPA’s other partners for the glamarous awards ceremony. (click for live feed)

Senior Presidential advisor Maj.Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba will be the chief guest at the Ugandan sports oscars.

At the last awards,  golfer Ronald Otile was named the country’s Sports Personality of 2015.

The awards are one of Uganda’s oldest, with USPA having annually awarded the best since the early 70s. Sabiti Muwanga is the President USPA.

@USPAmedia Sports personality of the year 2015 goes to Ronald Otile @USPAmedia @OfficialFUFA @PatriqKanyomozi pic.twitter.com/fopw5uBzX3

— Cynthia Mpanga (@CynthiaMpanga) April 29, 2016

NOMINEE PROFILES

Onyango

South Africa based Denis Onyango was named Uganda’s footballer of the year after guiding Uganda Cranes and his club Sundowns to historic performances.

He was in goal as Uganda Cranes qualified for the Nations Cup finals for the first time since 1978, then led his club to the African Club Championship title – the first Ugandan to win the honour. His club also competed at the World Club Championships.

Emong

David Emony was named Uganda’s athlete of the year after his historic medal exploits in the para-Olympics event at the Rio Olympics.  Emong gave Uganda her first ever Paralympics medal, winning silver in 1500m – T46 final in Rio.

Emong, 26, was Uganda’s only athlete at the competition. The T46 disability sport classification is a group for track and field athletes missing their arm from near the top of their arm.

Wokorach

He is a Uganda 7s international who has had an outstanding year. He was the star as Uganda lifted their maiden Africa Rugby Cup Sevens title in Nairobi.

Uganda’s victory in the African Rugby 7s in Nairobi booked them a place in three major tournaments, Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens  and the HSBC Cape Town Sevens in December plus the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Qualifier in Hong Kong in March.

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USPA SPORTS PERSONALITIES OF 2016

 Nominees for Sports Personality of the year

Denis Onyango (Football)

David Emong (Paralympics)

Phillip Wokorach (Rugby)

Nominees for Team of the year

Uganda Cranes

Rugby Cranes

City Oilers

Nominations for Sports Event of the year

National Open Pool Championship

Uganda Golf Open

BEST RUN FEDERATION OF 2016

**The winners of the above awards will be announced at the gala (see live feed page 2).

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

Rugby

Male: Phillip Wokorach

Female: Grace Auma

Basketball

Male: Jimmy Enabu

Female: Judith Nansobya

Motocross

Aviv Orland

Chess

Male: Harold Wanyama

Female: Joyce Kabengano

Netball

Joan Nampungu

Darts

Male: Jacob Okidi

Female: Dinah Amoding

Kickboxing

Patricia Apolot

Ludo

Sarah Namubiru

Handball

Male: Felix Mukunzi

Female:Muhaimuna Namuwaya

Swimming

Male: Nicholas Malani

Female: Kirabo Namutebi

Hockey

Male: Innocent Mbabali

Female: Doreen Asiimwe

Squash

Ian Rukunya

**** (see flashback to 2015 awards and 2016 awards LIVE FEED page 2)