President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday gifted brand new cars to all Ugandan athletes who won medals in the just concluded Olympics games.
This was during an event the President held at Kololo Independence Grounds where he welcomed the sportsmen and women who represented the East African country in Tokyo, Japan.
The athletes were gifted with Mitsubishi Pajero Sport cars.
Uganda was the second-best performing country at the Olympics in Africa behind Kenya, despite only collecting a total of four medals.
Joshua Cheptegei won Gold and Silver in the Men’s 5000m and 10,000 Metres respectively; Gold for Peruth Chemutai in the Women’s 3000 Steeplechase, as well as Jacob Kiplimo who won Bronze in the Men’s 10000 metres.
However,despite giving out the cars, President Museveni was not aware that his gifts were already at the reception.
“You know how happy men can be generous, I will give each one of them a vehicle. Now we shall negotiate about the vehicle. Do they want the one like for Museveni here or? I will discuss with the Minister of Sports and you people we shall discuss which are the best vehicles for these young people,” Museveni said before one person in the audience interjected by saying, “Your Excellency the cars are already here.”
Museveni in response said, “Ooh okay.”
Meanwhile, the President also promised to build houses for the parents of the medalists.
He also revealed that Ugandan sports men and women who earned Uganda a gold medal at a continental level, commonwealth or Olympic games will be paid a monthly salary of Shs5 million.
According to the President, silver medalists in any of the three categories will each earn Shs3 million per month while bronze medalists will be paid Shs1 million.
“I made an order in 2013 that anybody who wins gold at a continental level, commonwealth or Olympics should be paid Shs5m per month all the time and Shs1 million for silver and bronze. It was not honored…I was told they are being paid quarterly. I didn’t say quarterly. I speak English very well. All their arrears will be paid. …what they should have been paid,” Museveni said.
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