Uganda’s top weight lifter David Niyoyita has asked the state minister for sports Hon. Peter Ogwang to preside over the National council of sports so that the sports regulatory body extends him the prize money that was at stake when he represented the country at the 2024 All Africa Games.
Niyoyita won bronze in snatch with his best 90kgs lift, silver in clean and jerk with his 120kgs lift in the 55kg category.
His 210kg total came second to Madagascar’s Erich Andriantsithohaina who took gold with 231 kgs lift.
“I won a silver medal from Ghana in the All Africa Games but I never got the money government stakes at international medals and the subsequent monthly stipend from the president has also never come. I want the minister to come through and help so that I get my money because I worked hard,” noted Niyoyita, who also raised the matter to the minister when he met athletes during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games early this week.
“It has been long but the National council of sports General Secretary promised to follow up for me,” added Niyoyita, who is the only weightlifter Uganda presented at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Niyoyita, who moved to the 60kg category hoping for the best could match the prowess of an elite powerful field as he fell short with his 135kg lift to drop out of contention.
According to the government of Uganda scheme, athletes with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals are entitled to Shs100, Shs50m and Shs30m one-off prizes respectively while they stay on a monthly presidential stipend of Shs5m, Shs3m and Shs1m respectively.
This stipend has however not been regular with president Museveni at one time publicly warning to jail whoever was embezzling the athletes’ money.
