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Ugandan Olympic gold medalists to get $1,000 monthly salary: Museveni

Thursday August 12 2021
Peruth Chemutai

Ugandan gold medallist Peruth Chemutai. PHOTO | AFP

By MONITOR

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Wednesday announced that athletes who earn the country a gold medal at continental, commonwealth or Olympic games will be paid a monthly salary of Ush5 million ($1,419).

Mr Museveni said silver medalists in any of the three categories will each earn Ush3 million ($851)per month while bronze medalists will be paid Ush1 million ($283).

The President also pledged a vehicle for each of the medalists and a house for their parents.

cars

Vehicles that were given to Uganda's Olympic medalists by President Museveni on August 11, 2021. PHOTO | COURTESY | PPU


Joshua Cheptegai

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei celebrates after winning the men's 5000m final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on August 6, 2021. PHOTO | AFP

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"I made an order in 2013 that anybody who wins gold at a continental level, commonwealth or Olympics should be paid Ush5 million per month all the time and Ush1 million for silver and bronze. It was not honoured...I was told they are being paid quarterly.

"I didn't say quarterly. I speak English very well. All their arrears will be paid. ...what they should have been paid. And because I'm now a happy man. I will give each of these medalists a car. I will build for their parents a house each," Mr Museveni said as he received Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai, Jacob Kiplimo, Halima Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo among other Olympic athletes who returned from Tokyo, Japan.

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