{UAH} President donates car to Golden Boy Kiprotich for second gold in three years

President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed that Government is to name
high altitude centre after Stephen Kiprotich, in honor of the
athlete's triumph at the recent World Athletics Championship held in
the Russian capital, Moscow. He said the process of setting up the
Centre is on-going and is embedded in the 2013/2014 financial year
budget.

The President was yesterday speaking at a luncheon he hosted in his
country home at Rwakitura in honor of Assistant Superintendant of
Prisons, Stephen Kiprotich, for winning Uganda a gold medal at the
recent World Athletic Championship in Moscow. Kiprotich won in the
42-kilometer marathon category, in a record time of 2 hours 9 minutes
and 15 seconds, comfortably beating off his closest contenders, Lelisa
Desisa Benti and Tadesa Tola, both from Ethiopia.

President Museveni pledged government support towards constructing a
house for Golden Boy Stephen Kiprotich befitting the status of a gold
medalist. He also handed him a brand new Pajero Mitsubishi vehicle to
ease his mobility on top of Shs.10 million cash and a monthly
allowance of Shs.5 million.

The President who congratulated Stephen Kiprotich upon winning another
gold medal on top of that which he bagged in the Olympic Games in
London in a span of one year added that Kiprotich's victory has
publicized Uganda worldwide in a very short time.

"The Uganda Tourism Board has been asking for money to publicize
Uganda but Kiprotich has done it in a few minutes just like Akii-Bua
did it", he noted.

Mr. Museveni explained that sports traditionally serve four purposes
including entertainment, fitness for the participants, developing the
spirit of sportsmen and women as well as publicity. He noted that
Kiprotich had done all of them.

He attributed Kiprotich's success to the peace in the region which
enables uninterrupted training for youth with talent, unlike before
when the Pokot of Kenya and the Karimojong of Uganda made it difficult
for the Sabiny to live in peace.

"The biggest problem of Sebei was peace because you had problems with
Pokot from Kenya and the Karimojong, and that practice of cutting our
girls. But now that it was addressed, the rest is okay", he explained.

He promised victorious athletes a monthly stipend of Shs.5 million to
gold medalists, Shs.3 million and Shs.1 million to silver and bronze
medal winners respectively at continental, Commonwealth and world
levels in a move to motivate sportsmen and women. He also promised to
avail US$360,000 dollars to enable the Uganda Athletics Federation
host the cross country championship this year in response to the
request made earlier by the President of the Federation, Mr. Otucet
Dominic.

Mr. Museveni donated Shs.10 million cash to the other team members
that represented Uganda in Moscow. These include Kiprotich Stephen,
Kiprop Jackson, and Kiplimo Abraham in the marathon category.

Others were Kipsro Moses, Kiprotich Timothy and Ayeko Thomas in 1000
meters category; Kiplagat Benjamin, Araputanyi Jacob in the 3000metre
category; Kipiyeko Phillip in the 5000 metre category; Musagala Ronald
in the 800 metres and Sarah Nambawa in the triple jump category.

Stephen Kiprotich commended President Museveni for the good NRM
leadership which has seen his native Sebei Region enjoy peace and
security that has enabled him and his counterparts to freely develop
their talents. He also thanked him for fulfilling the pledges he made
to him when he won the Commonwealth gold medal in London recently.

The Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Jessica Alupo highlighted
the need to focus on physical education if Uganda is to get more
Kiprotichs.

ENDS