16 ATHLETES EARN SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH USHS 500M Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) announced athletes’ scholarship opportunities worth U.shs 491,670,000 ($ 182,100) to 16 national athletes from local federations. The scholarships will enable the local athletes to prepare ahead of time and qualify for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. The Olympic scholarships go to only young and promising athletes Charles Sekyaaya (Weightlifter), Swimmer Jamila Lunkuse, and Uganda’s Lawn Tennis top seed and Africa third ranked player Duncan Mugabe. The continental athlete support grant scholarships include 6 rowers; Gerald Ssemamabo, Alfred Okello, Stanley Kaijage, Constance Mbambu Suzan Nabukenya and Betty Nabifo. Others are two badminton aces; Edwin Ekiring and Bridget Shamim Bangi, swimmers Elisha Ekirikubinza and Arnold Kisulo; Weighlifters Jamiru Lubega, Hakim Ssempereza and Becky Namusoke and an athlete coach from IAAF, who will be brought to the country to develop field events. The scholarships run until 2016 (two years) renewable every year depending on the individual athlete’s performance and any drop in performance could evoke the scholarships rights by UOC. William Blick, President Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) said: These scholarships are based on performance, we will automatically drop you because these scholarships are meant to help our athletes qualify for the Olympics in Rio, Break Down: Each of the athlete will be supported with at least U.shs 2,700,00 ($1,000) monthly as allowances to facilitate their training on costs such as transport, meals and coaching with another $ 5000 as travel subsidy. The scholarships got underway on 1st September 2014 divided into separate terms running for four months period each. Other periodic terms will commence on 1st January 2015, 1st may 2015, 1st September 2015, 1st January 2015 and 1st May 2016. The Olympic committee also has continental support grants to assist athletes to benefit from the Olympic scholarships to Badminton players Edwin Ekiring and Shamim Bangi. Boxing and Athletics will also benefit from the scheme with special assistance from the Olympic committee. To athletics, the scheme will help jumpers and throwers with technical support as the UOC wishes to bring into the country technical coaches to develop these elite athletes and also train more coaches into the field.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 07:31:53 +0000