UPDF wins East African Community military games in Kenya

The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces(UPDF) team that has been participating in the East  Africa Community (EAC) Military games and cultural events yesterday has emerged the overall winner of the games held in Kenya.

UPDF collected two gold medals, in netball and volleyball; two silver medals in basketball and athletics to be crowned overall winners of the games that ended on Friday.

The Kenyan President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta who is the Commander in Chief of the Kenyan Armed Forces and Chief of the Golden Heart officiated the closing ceremony of military games where he awarded the medals to the best teams and players at MOI International Stadium.

The EAC Military games and cultural events which commenced on August 11, 2019, in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, came to an end on Friday, August 23,  2019  with the  UPDF team code-named "Mission Uganda" emerging  the overall winners followed by Rwanda whereas hosts Kenya were third, followed by Tanzania, Burundi and South Sudan in that order.

The team for Juba participated for the first time in the military games and competed in only two disciplines of basketball and cross country.

The games and cultural events ran under the theme "One people, one destiny through games and cultural events".

Speaking at the closing ceremony, President Kenyatta complimented the East African Community for granting his country the opportunity host this year’s edition of the games which he said had created a positive impact on his country.

He also stressed that hosting military games in any country has become a fundamental pillar for supporting the efforts to build the unity and objectives of the region.

”I want to remind all the participants that the biggest objective for East African Community is to foster the spirit of cooperation among EAC countries,” Kenyatta said.

“In the same way I congratulate our sister country South Sudan for being part of this year's games which gives a brighter future and we look forward for their continued involvement in the next edition.”

While speaking to journalists, the UPDF Chief of Education and Sports, Brig. Francis Takirwa who is led the Ugandan delegation attributed the team’s excellent performance to ample preparations prior to the games, good facilitation from the UPDF leadership and discipline of the participants.

He emphasized the issue of cooperation and spirit of brotherhood that he said needs to continue among the East African partner states.

Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs Hon Adolf Mwesige and Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi escorted the Ugandan delegation to the closing ceremony.

South Sudan will host the 13th edition of the East African military games in 2020.