Uganda shines at the 13th African Games, 1 more gold medal from cyclist Kagimu

Accra, Ghana | THE INDEPENDENT | Cyclist Charles Kagimu on Friday evening won Uganda’s second Gold medal at the ongoing 13th edition of African games in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast Cities.

The in-form cyclist won the medal in the individual time trial category despite the excessive humidity in Poukuase, a suburb of Accra. He became Uganda’s second gold medalist, following the success of Husinah Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi in badminton.

“I thank God for this victory,” He said after winning the gold. “The heat was much but I managed to succeed. I also thank my fellow riders for the good race.”

Kagimu’s gold took Uganda’s medal tally to 8 with two golds (badminton and cycling), three silvers (weightlifting), and three bronze medals (swimming and weightlifting).

Kagimu entered the contest as the reigning African champion in the same category, having previously won the title at the same Poukuase Street location in February 2023, and his form never faltered.

In football, Uganda’s Under-20 teams surged into the semifinals, positioning themselves for a shot at the medal bracket. The men’s team, known as the Hippos, secured a perfect record in the group stage with three consecutive wins, including victories against Senegal (2-1) and Nigeria (1-0), and later South Sudan (1-0).

Similarly, the Uganda U20 National Women’s Team, the Queen Cranes, advanced to the semifinals undefeated, with standout performances against Tanzania and Ethiopia, and later a one-all draw with hosts Ghana. Queen Cranes will face now Nigeria which led Group B in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, in boxing, Owen Kibira defeated Equatorial Guinea’s Billigraham Nze in the men’s 67 kgs category in the preliminary round of 16 while his compatriot Sharua Musa Ndagire lost to Nigeria’s Oje Nene 5-0 in the women’s 57 kgs.

In action today Muzamiru Ssemuddu will clash with Togo’s Holonou Akousan in the men’s 71 kg category, along with Kasimu Murungi’s bout against Liberia’s Williams Timothy in the men’s 57 kg category in boxing. Additionally, Uganda’s women’s handball team is set to compete against DR Congo at the Borteyman Sports Complex in the preliminary round.

Uganda boasts representation across various sports including athletics, weightlifting, cricket, rugby (7’s), table tennis, tennis, swimming, cycling, basketball, taekwondo, handball, football, and badminton.

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