UGANDA: Sh100 million for Olympics gold, silver sh50 million

Paris, France | THE INDEPENDENT | Just hours before the athletics programme starts at the Paris Olympic Games, Uganda’s stars have got a huge psychological boost that should turn them into instant millionaires.

Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang today announced hefty cash prizes for medal winners when he visited the team at the Games Village.

” Gold medal winners will bag Shs 100 million each, silver medal winners Shs 50m and bronze medallists Shs 30m,” he announced.

Ugandans, led by Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Chepegeti are favourites to snatch medals in the long distance races.

At the last Olympics, Uganda returned with two gold, a silver and bronze medal.

The three Ugandan athletes who won medals at the Tokyo Olympic Games were rewarded with cars and a monthly stipend.

President Yoweri Museveni handed over the vehicles to Joshua Cheptegei who won a gold medal in the men’s 5,000m and a silver in the 10,000m race, Peruth Chemutai who won gold in the women’s 10,000m women’s, and Jacob Kiplimo who bagged a bronze medal in the 10,000m final.

Museveni told the winners that they will receive a monthly salary of 5 million shillings (about 1,400 U.S. dollars) for gold, 3 million shillings (about 850 U.S. dollars) for silver and 1 million shillings (about 285 U.S. dollars) for bronze.

Museveni also built houses for their parents.