The much-anticipated return of athletics to Namboole Stadium will have to wait a little longer after the National Over Distance Championships, originally scheduled for February 15, 2025, was postponed.
The Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) announced the decision on Wednesday morning, citing a scheduling conflict with the Vision Group Harvest Money Expo, which will run from February 14 to 16 at the stadium.
In a statement, UAF confirmed that a new date for the competition would be announced soon and apologized for any inconvenience caused to athletes, coaches, and fans who were eager to witness the first track event at Namboole since its closure for renovations.
The National Over Distance Championships is a key event in Uganda’s athletics calendar, designed to test athletes in longer-than-usual race distances to build endurance and assess early-season form.
The 2025 edition was set to feature races in the 150m, 300m, 600m, 1000m, and 6000m, along with field events like long jump and javelin throw for both men and women.
The meet was expected to mark the official return of competitive athletics to Namboole following the completion of its new tartan track in September last year.
Interestingly, the decision to prioritize a non-sporting event at Namboole contradicts earlier assurances from the State Minister for Sport, Hon. Peter Ogwang.
In August last year, amid concerns that the stadium would be booked for non-sporting activities such as independence day prayers, Ogwang reaffirmed that Namboole would be used exclusively for sports.
“I want to allay your fears and reecho my earlier stance that Namboole Stadium will not be used for any activity other than sports, at least not on our grass. However, Namboole has enough space within the precincts of the stadium, like the parking lots, which can be utilized by management to raise non-tax revenue,” Ogwang said on August 13, 2024.
With the postponement of the National Over Distance Meet, questions will likely be raised about the prioritization of events at the newly renovated facility.
For now, Uganda’s athletics community will have to wait a little longer to see top runners back in action at Namboole.
