David Emong has received the Shs30m reward promised to him by National Council of Sports (NCS) upon his Gold at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.
NCS delivered Shs30m, paid in two Bank of Baroda cheques with each bearing Shs15m, as an earlier promised reward for his success two years ago.
The reward was handed to him by Hon. Charles Bakakabulindi, the state minister for sports, during NCS’ four-day team building retreat in eastern Uganda.
“I want to break the world record,” an elated Emong, a 1,500m T46 runner, said after receiving his reward in Kapchorwa.
On his part, Bakkabulindi said: “This is a testament to a government that delivers on its promises and the more success you bring, the more you motivate us to find all means to improve sports in this country.”
Emong, who hails from Amolatar in Nothern Uganda, is currently training in Kapchorwa ahead of his next race in August.
The handover ceremeony was attended by the Kapchorwa district leadership headed by the Resident District Commissioner Emma Rose Cherukut.
In addition, the NCS team, led by board chairman Bosco Onyik and the acting general secretary Dr Patrrick Bernard Ogwel, handed over Shs10m to the district leadership to boost sports in a region famous for long distance athletics.
Onyik spoke with pride in regard to visiting a place where success is almost guaranteed.
“It’s good and often easy to go see people whom you know are disciplined and working hard to raise Uganda’s flag. I come here with pride and delight,” Onyik noted.
NCS started a reward system for excelling sportsmen and women. Commonwealth Games medalists Joshua Cheptegei, Stella Chesang, Mercyline Chelangat, Solomon Mutai and Juma Miiro shared a Shs100m prize last year.
