Ugandan Olympic gold medalists will earn a monthly pay of Ksh.154,584(UGsh 5 million) for the rest of their lives according to an order issued by President Yoweri Museveni.
The athletes will also have houses built for their parents in the latest development. Athletes who bagged silver and bronze will get Ksh.31,113 a month.
Medalists Joshua Cheptegei, Peruth Chemutai, and Jacob Kiplimo have already received new cars from the state.
“I made an order in 2013 that anybody who wins gold at a continental level, commonwealth, or Olympics be paid Shs5m per month, Shs3m & Shs1 million for silver & bronze. I am told they are being paid quarterly. I speak English very well, let their money be paid, even the arrears,” President Museveni said.
The latest development comes even as some of the athletes who have brought honour to the landlocked state are still waiting for the fulfillment of promises made by the state from the past. Dorcus Inzikuru, a Ugandan athlete, was gifted a house in her hometown of Arua, as well as a car, for her gold medals at the 2005 World Championship and the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and Peruth Chemutai were Uganad’s stars in the just concluded Tokyo Olympics. Cheptegei won gold in the men’s 5000m and silver in the 10,000m while Kiplimo won bronze in the 10,000m. Chemutai on the hand emulated her mentor Dorcas Inzikuru to win gold in the women’s 3000m steeplechase in what was a very successful outing for the Ugandans.
On Monday, the gold medalists were each rewarded with brand new cars from the state. The gold medal winners were each given new SUV’s (Mitsubishi Outlanders) while the silver medalist received a Mitsubishi L200.
“I want to gift each athlete who gave us a medal at the Olympics with a car and cash,” said Museveni. The new vehicles will be awarded as follows; two Mitsubishi Outlanders for the gold medalist and a Mitsubishi L200 for silver medalist," Museveni announced.
Uganda finished 39th overall in the global medal standings.