The Forum for Democratic Change, FDC Party Deputy Spokesperson has castigated government to stop promoting Chapati and concentrate on Sports.
He was reacting to Uganda’s performance at the Olympics, where the country managed to win two Gold medals, one Silver and one Bronze. Despite the lack of improved training facilities in Uganda, Peruth Chemutai and Joshua Cheptegei managed to win Gold Medals.
Cheptegei also won a silver, while Jacob Kiplimo won a bronze.
While addressing the media at Najjanankumbi on Monday morning, Kikonyogo said that while the country knew Cheptegei, many did not know about Chemutai.
He explained that it is a shame, that she won a medal for Uganda, yet her home government is busy promoting chapati.
“A few of us knew about Chemutai. This is a young lady who came out of nowhere and won us a Gold medal. But if we asked, how much does our country invest in that lady, a few of us have an answer. And then we have this minister who was trying to promote Uganda using chapati. But here is a lady who did everything on her own and raised the Ugandan flag” Kikonyogo said.
He added that government is spending a lot of money paying American companies to sell Ugandans internationally, yet we have athletes. Kikonyogo says sports people should also be trained to sell Uganda while speaking to the media at such world events.
“They tried to interview Chemutai but it was cut short at about 10 seconds. But if she could speak very well, she would have said I come from that country with Sipi Falls” Kikonyogo added.
He said that Kenya has been mostly sold internationally, by her long distance runners, and Uganda should pick a leaf.
Kikonyogo says state house dinners are not enough to motivate athletes.
