President Yoweri Museveni has held discussions with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, during a meeting at State House Entebbe.
The talks were also attended by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, along with other high-ranking officials.
President Museveni welcomed Mr. Bach and his delegation to Uganda and expressed his gratitude to the IOC for its efforts to involve refugee communities in sports through the Refugee Olympic Team.
The Refugee Olympic Team consists of independent athletes who are refugees, providing them an opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games.
“I am very happy with this initiative,” Museveni said. “Thank you for supporting the Refugee Olympic Team. This is a great innovation, and it will empower talented refugees to excel in sports.”
Museveni also highlighted Uganda’s strength in athletics, attributing the success to favorable training conditions. He extended an invitation to international athletes to train in Uganda, citing the country’s high-altitude training center as a key resource.
“Uganda has ideal training conditions, especially with our high-altitude center. It helps athletes learn how to economize oxygen. I encourage athletes from other countries to come and benefit from this facility,” Museveni remarked.
In discussing Uganda’s refugee policy, President Museveni emphasized the country’s openness and support for refugees, explaining that Uganda has established a welcoming environment based on its philosophy of hospitality.
“We have no Ugandan refugees today. Many of our people are part of the diaspora, but they left during times of insecurity. Now that Uganda is stable, they support us with remittances. We have no problem with refugees; we provide them with security and do not restrict them to camps. Many refugees, especially from Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Congo, are thriving in our towns,” he added.
However, Museveni appealed to international organizations to provide additional logistical support to help Uganda manage the growing refugee population.
“Our challenge is logistical, particularly with food and schooling. When you plan a school for 1,000 students and it ends up with 4,000 due to the refugee influx, it becomes difficult to meet the demand,” the president noted.
First Lady Janet Museveni also expressed her gratitude to the IOC delegation for visiting Uganda, acknowledging the nation’s progress in sports development.
“Uganda is one of the five countries you are visiting, which is a testament to our strides in advancing sports and promoting the Olympic movement,” she said.
She commended Uganda’s long-standing relationship with the IOC since 1954 and noted the progress of the national Olympic team on the international stage.
“Our young athletes have been flying the Ugandan flag high,” Janet Museveni said, adding her appreciation for the IOC’s efforts to empower refugees through sports.
IOC President Thomas Bach described the Refugee Olympic Team as a symbol of hope for refugees worldwide, aiming to raise awareness of the global migrant crisis. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Mustapha Berraf, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
