- April 2, 2019
- Posted by: Communications
- Category: Latest News
By Owek Mugerwa Francis
Jacent Nyamahunge has won two gold medals at this year’s Special Olympics games in Abu Dhabi.
Nyamahunge, who hail from Kiziranfumbi sub county in Kikuube district won the women 200 metres race at the Dubai Police Stadium on Saturday night beating Japanese Mayak Kimura and Jahannah Mogale of South Africa by 24 and 28 seconds respectively.
The former student of Premier secondary school who is currently at Uganda Christian university won the women 100 meters earlier.
Nyamahunge who is an orphan also won double gold in the 100 and 200 metres at the 2015 special Olympics in Los Angeles, USA.
Unfortunately, her father, Francis Isingoma passed away in January 2015
On her return to Uganda, she was received with pomp and jubilation as hundreds of her supporters led her to meet the King of Bunyoro, Dr Solomon Gafabusa Iguru 1.
She says in 2015, President Museveni promised her 5 million shillings and a scholarship.
She acknowledges receiving the money.
She used Shs2.3 million shillings of this money to buy two acres of land for her mother, Anna Mary Kyalisiima, who had been chased out of her matrimonial home by relatives after the passing on of her husband.
She constructed for the mother a semi-permanent house, roofed with over 20 iron sheets.
We are pleased with Nyamahunge for lifting high the flag of Bunyoro and Uganda at the international stage, said the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom premier Rt Hon Andrew Byakutaga.
He said sports is important in improving on the health of the participants, instilling values of team work, hard work, time keeping and responsibility.
“we shall work with stakeholders to scout, nurture and promote talents of our young stars. We congratulate Nyamahunge and all Ugandan athletes that represented our country “Byakutaga said.
Special Olympics are the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event which focuses on the empowerment of People of Determination with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport.
Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Over 7,000 athletes from over 170 countries compete in a series of sports, as well as a variety of initiatives and activities.
Jacent Nyamahunge was born on December 2, 1998 at Kaigo village in the present day Kikuube District. She is currently under the care of her uncle Maj. Acasias Mpabaisi.
Nyamahunge completed primary education with 22 aggregate at Kaigo Primary school in 2011. She joined Premier S.S, Hoima, where she completed O’Level in 2015.
She completed Senior Six at Old Kampala S.S.
She is currently a student at Uganda Christian University, Mukono.
Nyamahunge has qualified for the University world games which will be in Italy in July 2019.
“The president awarded our athletes after Winning in Los Angeles with 5million each so we expect the same.We also had Agenorwoth Rodgers who won a gold in the same invent In Abudhabi In 1500 m in open water swimming” says Amon Zondera, the Kikuube district inspector of schools.
Ends