Uganda will commemorate 100 years of athletics history with a major celebration on June 7, 2025 – hosting the John Akii-Bua Memorial Invitational at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
The event, named after Uganda’s 1972 Olympic champion John Akii-Bua, will bring together top international invitees and local talent in a day-long festival of track and field competition and entertainment.
The meet features two tiers of races: an invitational elite section and separate events for local athletes. Elite male athletes will contest the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and long jump, while elite women compete in the 400m, 800m, 5000m, and javelin.
A total prize purse of $5,000 is up for grabs in the invitational events (with $1,600 to each winner), and local athletes will also vie for cash prizes ranging from UGX 350,000 for first place down to UGX 50,000 for eighth.
The centenary celebrations kick off at 7:00 AM with a 10km road race, followed by a Kids’ Athletics clinic, before the main competitions in the afternoon. Organisers are planning a carnival atmosphere – including corporate relays, family fun zones, and live music – to ensure the milestone is both a sporting spectacle and a community festival.
“This meet is about celebrating our rich legacy and inspiring the next generation,” said UAF officials, as Uganda marks a century since formal athletics began in 1925.
