State Minister for Sports, Honorable Peter Ogwang, recently made an impromptu visit to the Teryet high altitude training center in Kapchorwa, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Sports and the National Council of Sports. His visit was prompted by concerns about the delayed completion of the facility, which was originally scheduled to be finished by 2019. However, upon inspection, Minister Ogwang discovered that the construction works were far from being completed, and both the contractor and consultant had abandoned the site.
Disappointed by the lack of progress, Minister Ogwang took action and involved Uganda Police leading to the arrest of some officials involved in the project. He expressed his frustration on his X account on social media, stating that the matter had been reported for further investigation, and arrests had already been made. This development comes after concerns were raised by Honorable John Baptiste Nambeshe in August 2023 regarding the utilization of UGX 26 billion allocated to the center.
In his response to queries raised in Parliament, Minister Ogwang had previously assured that significant progress had been made at the Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre, with construction nearly finished. He had stated, “The overall physical completion of the project currently stands at an impressive 97%.” However, the recent visit revealed a stark contrast to these claims, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the delays and ensure the completion of the vital sports facility.
The World Athletics-certified Teryet Center has a perfect altitude of 2.600m making it a paradise for athletes looking to improve endurance. The facility, when completed will comprise an athletics track, hostels for athletes, a jogging track, artificial turf, a physio room, a swimming pool, and a helicopter pad.
We will continue to monitor the developments regarding the Teryet high-altitude training center and provide updates as the situation progresses.
