Runaway Bride

Kiplimo Jacob at UAE's Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. Photo by Canadian Running.

In early August, Kiplimo was the name on every sports and non-sports-oriented mind. He was winning run after run and headlining every news tabloid back home and away. He added two gold medals from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in the 5000m and 10000m, and two bronze medals from the Eugene World Championships Games and the Tokyo Olympic Games, both in the 10000m. Just like when a Ugandan athlete has won at an International level, social media is clogged with pictures of leaders showing signs of celebration in their offices.

Kiplimo's win after win was no different, prompting a "wise" lady to air her views on Twitter and Facebook. The message read, "Whoever is managing Kiplimo, please talk to him to sell or give up his citizenship to either UK or USA or any European country that appreciates sports so that he can get big endorsement deals like Nike, etc. You are making Uganda proud and selling it to the World, but Uganda does not care. One Somalian sportsman (name forgotten) sold his to the UK, and his life got changed forever. My worry you may end up like Inzikuru, Kiprotich, etc, who made the country proud but live in absolute poverty, and humiliation. Yet in other countries, good sportsmen like you live in absolute bliss." The lady that posted this was meant with a lot of pushback. Out of every ten comments below the post, 8 were heavy pushbacks trashing the lady for being unpatriotic.

Her statement is a heavily stated observation, but how best could she have presented the reality of Ugandan sports? Uganda is one of the most youthful countries Worldwide, yet it holds the World record for the highest youth unemployment rates. Sports, one of the biggest economic drivers globally, is extensively viewed as a leisure activity in Uganda, yet it can employ millions of youth. Each year heavily funded sports budgets are read, but this remains in the books. This brings me to the issue of disappearing athletes whenever Ugandan Teams travel on International trips.

She Cranes. Photo by Sports Nation.

It is unfortunate that this vice dates back to the 1970s to date. In 1972, while on a joint East African Cricket tour in London, of the two representatives from Uganda, only one returned. At the birth of basketball in the 1990s, a story is told of about 7 youthful Ugandans that got a chance to go on a basketball tour in the USA under the Abe Lincoln Basketball Academy, and they all vanished. Down the road, in 2007, two cricket players disappeared after winning the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Australia. A few years later, in 2009, 7 cricket players vanished while on a World Qualifier trip in Canada. After the 2014 commonwealth games in Scotland, two rugby players disappeared from the camp. In 2021, at the pre - Olympic training Camp in Japan, Julius Ssekitoleko disappeared and was man-hunted until he was deported back to Uganda. Nearly a year later, two She Cranes netball players disappeared after the Vitality Netball Series in London, UK. Some accounts may not even be documented, but it seems the vice is not going away soon.

In one of my past articles, I wrote about Julius Ssekitoleko, using him as the symbolic representation of most Ugandan athletes. The economic situation that Ugandan athletes are subjected to is the main push to the high brain drain of athletes to other countries. In most cases, a few clubs that cater to the transport needs of these athletes offer between 5,000 UGX - 10,000 UGX (1.32 USD - 2.64 USD) per training session attended or game day allowance. In addition to this, a handful of clubs go ahead to pay a peasantry monthly wage. This varies from sport to sport as different Federations have streamlined their policies. More so, this is broken down to club level as the financial budget of each club varies. Most athletes who have placed their sports life at the center of their earning expenses barely have stable jobs due to the commitment. A few athletes have successfully managed to have well-defined employment away from the sports industry. The gains in the sports industry are worth waiting upon if one makes it to the leadership roles, which seems like a get-rich-quick scheme once one gets into these roles.

When our athletes return from International games as champions, they are joyfully welcomed at the International Airport like Jesus was in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. They are returning to the same brutal economic hardships. Actually, worse economic hardships as the cost of living is growing faster than the standards of living. After the joyous return, they are hosted and awarded bountiful amounts of money and cars (if fortunate), which is seductive to the other athletes. The 20 million UGX will be shared among the athletes, the technical team, and a few crumbs must be put into the Federation treasury. The car or motorcycle they have received needs to be maintained, and it runs on fuel, whose cost is someone's daily allowance. In the light of more awards, one is given a promotion at their workplace or a house. We appreciate the recognition, but how are these sustainable in the long run, given the reality on the ground? Our athletes resort to looking for easier ways out. Those confident enough about making it to the National level keep at it while a good number retire from sports before they play to their peak.

"So many feelings go unsaid." Julius Ssekitoleko upon his arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Uganda. Photo by Africa News.

Around September this year, the Lacrosse Team was denied visas. This was no different from the National Team Pool Case in 2014, when they were denied visas to represent the country. These teams are relying heavily on the financial strength of their Federations with little hope on their players' financial standing, which places them at risk of rejection. The yearly stories of athletes running away while on tours have become a basis for visa awarding. However, a problem cannot be solved from the stems while the roots rot away. The economic situation of our athletes back home is so appalling, and you can all be witness to the statement, "Every Ugandan athlete that gets a chance to play even in the lowest division of a European, USA or Asian country has made it in life." Brain drain will not stop overnight in a country where sports is still a leisure activity that other countries have heavily commercialized. This is an industry in Uganda where the athletes sweat all day, walk back home or spend hours bargaining with "bodaboda" men while the officials leave the sports grounds to the comfort of their Benzes.

It is not enough to wear the National Tracksuit and pose for a picture in front of the airplane, nor is it enough to have fine dining and toast at the State House. Sustainable solutions for our athletes to have the urge to represent the country repeatedly need to be developed. Policies need to be designed that highly favor athletes. In the face of recognition of these athletes' duty, at least let the offers be able to generate more income for the athlete or grow their craft and the other athletes to come.

Back to the Tweet/Facebook post, the lady was just watching out for Kiplimo. He needs to go where his appreciation gets converted into monetary value.