Security concerns are blotting sports events in East Africa, and the organisers of this weekend’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala will count themselves lucky to realise a full house.

Already, Kenya is struggling to consolidate July’s IAAF World Under-18 Championships scheduled for Nairobi after some Western nations indicated they would not send teams due to tension ahead of the country’s August 8 general election and fears of insecurity.

US, Great Britain, New Zealand, Switzerland and Canada are some of the leading athletics nations that will not send teams to Nairobi, a decision that has not gone down well with the Kenya government.

Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said the government has taken measures to ensure the competition venue at the Moi International Sports Centre is ready and secure to host the world’s youth in the five-day competition.

In stark contrast, there were no withdrawals from Kampala’s championships at the weekend. The event boasts of drawing the largest number of athletes since 2006 when the meet was held at Fukuoka’s Umi-no-nakamichi Seaside Park in Japan.

According to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the race attracted 557 athletes from 60 countries — a number that surpasses the figures from the past six editions.

Ugandan authorities assured visiting athletes and fans of security.

Kampala Metropolitan Commander Frank Mwesigwa told journalists in the capital that security agencies implemented a “thorough security plan for the safety of lives and property” during Sunday's March 25 athletics showpiece.
“Our security ring starts from the Entebbe Airport to the city,” said Mr Mwesigwa.

He added: “So far we have received 100 delegates and officials and escorted them to their designated four hotels in town; I cannot reveal the exact number of security officers we are to deploy but I can confirm we have many covert and overt officers on the ground.”

Over 2,000 guests were expected in Kampala for the afternoon races.