Uganda (UGA)

Uganda formed a British Empire Games Committee in 1953, which became the National Olympic Committee in 1955 and was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 24 January 1956, at the IOC session in Cortina d’Ampezzo. As it only obtained independence on 9 October 1962, Uganda, then a British protectorate, competed at the Olympic Games for the first time in 1956.

Its participation was continuous through 1972 – the highlight that year being John Akii-Bua winning the first Ugandan gold medal with his world record performance in the 400 metre hurdles. In 1976, after the overthrow of Idi Amin, and joining in the African boycott, Uganda did not participate at Montréal. It did compete, however, in both 1980 and 1984, and has since appeared at all subsequent Olympics. Uganda has never competed at the Olympic Winter Games.

Ugandan athletes have won 11 Olympic medals (four gold), seven in track & field athletics (and all golds) and four in boxing. In 2012 Stephen Kiprotich won the second gold medal for Uganda after winning the men’s marathon.Tokyo 2020 brought two more golds: Peruth Chemutai won the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, and Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 5,000 metres (along with a silver in the 10,000 metres).