President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni inaugurated the Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa District.
The cutting-edge facility, located on 45 hectares at an elevation of more than 2,500 metres above sea level, will meet the training needs of Ugandan and international athletes.
The center includes features such as an athletic track, an artificial turf track, a field track, a dormitory block, an exterior kitchen, and various equipment, all of which cost more than Shs 29 billion.
On arrival, the President was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, who commissioned the facility before inspecting and touring the hostel, kitchen, and other facilities.
They later met the athletes on the main track, with whom they had a pleasant contact.
President Museveni commended the sports fraternity on receiving a cutting-edge facility that will generate world-class athletes.
He offered a brief history of the center, emphasizing the advantages of training in high altitude settings.
“In sports, I am quite pleased that our individuals, including Kiprotich, have begun to excel in their chosen fields.
“The Sabiny man Koskei won a silver medal in 1970, and since then, because of the chaos, only Aki Bua has won anything since 1972,” he remarked.
“Sports lost their value as a result of the upheaval. But when these guys began to appear, this issue arose because I, too, am a sportsman; I am a football player. I stated that these folks who were born in the mountains and live in high locations have a natural capacity that we should foster since the lungs are more efficient at high altitudes and consume less oxygen.
President Museveni also emphasized the benefits of high-altitude exercising, which improves lung efficiency.
Because there is less oxygen here, training at high altitude is really beneficial. Your lungs are more effective if they are consuming less oxygen. Thus, the idea to construct a school to educate our own citizens and draw in others was born,” he claimed.
The President also noted that because the facility was unique, the government was willing to support its construction despite the numerous demands.
Although the track is now nice, the accommodations still need to be upgraded, so I’m delighted we created it. The contractors have been led by me.”This is a true goldmine, and I’m glad you did it,” said President Museveni.
President Museveni stated that the private sector will be asked to invest in the region in relation to the establishment of hotels, a matter brought up by Hon. Sam Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment.
We constructed the hostel for us, and I sincerely hope they would expand its ability to accommodate more than 24 people at once.Therefore, I’m thrilled to be here to officially inaugurate the school,” the president stated.
President Museveni received praise from Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo for the facility, which she claimed has made services more accessible to athletes who previously traveled to Kenya for training.
Maama Janet emphasized the center’s origins.
Following the valiant actions of our sons Moses Kipsiro and Stephen Kiprotich, who raised our flag on the international scene, the road that has brought us to this point began a few years ago. Given the wealth of potential in the Sebei region, the Ministry of Education and Sports began working with the local government of Kapchorwa district to build a state-of-the-art sports facility for our athletes,” she stated.
As a result, President Museveni made the decision to construct the facility in recognition of Stephen Kiprotich, who took home a gold medal from the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
Additionally, she praised President Museveni for his steadfast support of the Ministry of Sports and Education.
“The President has fulfilled his pledge to encourage athletics, which is why we are here today. I would also like to express my gratitude to the President of the Republic of Uganda for his support of this project and other on-going sports infrastructure initiatives, as well as for his ongoing direct assistance to the athletes,” she stated.
“As you are all aware, the President ordered that our athletes serve in the armed forces, and as a result, the majority of them, if not all of them, work for the Uganda Police, UPDF, and Uganda Prisons Services.”
The First Lady also gave special recognition to the Sebei region’s athletes for their perseverance in performing very well and representing Uganda with pride in a number of championship competitions despite the lack of suitable facilities.
For athletes all around our country, this facility is more than simply a physical building—it is a symbol of hope and ambition. In order to hoist our flag internationally, we must make sure that we produce more Cheptegeis and Kiprotichs, which is our own version of the theater of dreams, she stated.
In order to prevent Wanainchi from damaging water pipes, Hon. Cheptoris urged the government to give irrigation water top priority.
President Museveni was reassured by Hon. Peter Ogwang, Minister of State for Sports, that the athletes’ worries over their tokens of appreciation are being addressed.
Mr. Joshua Cheptegei, the athletes’ spokesperson, praised President Museveni for promoting the sport in the nation.
“I can attest that this is the best track because Peruth Chemutai and I have trained here before. I appreciate your unwavering support. Furthermore, the center has drawn visitors from all around the world in addition to being a hub for athletic achievement. “I would like to inform you that international athletes visit this place,” he said.
Ministers, lawmakers, and representatives of several cultures and religions were among those present at the occasion.
