By KT Reporter
Athletes from Uganda’s Sebei region have appealed to recently elected leaders to prioritize the construction and maintenance of quality road networks, saying poor roads continue to hinder training and expose them to injuries, ultimately affecting performance in competitions.
Equally, coaches say inadequate infrastructure forces expensive relocation for training, limiting opportunities for upcoming talent.
They suggest that improved roads in the region could strengthen Sebei’s reputation as a hub for world-class athletes.
Athletes argue that roads are a critical training facility, especially for long-distance runners, as most endurance and road-race preparations are conducted on public roads. Poor surfaces, they say, have resulted in frequent injuries and disrupted training programs.
Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, said many athletes are currently nursing injuries caused by rough and poorly maintained roads.“Many athletes are injured because of the poor roads we use during training. This demoralizes athletes from chasing their dreams,” Cheptegei said.
He added that the government has the financial capacity to improve road infrastructure, but emphasized the need for better management of available funds. “I am sure the government has money for roads, but sometimes it is mismanaged. If the recently elected leaders rectify this challenge, the roads can be worked on,” Cheptegei noted.
Stephen Kiprotich, the Olympic and World Marathon champion, also highlighted the importance of good road networks in implementing proper training programs, especially for speed endurance and marathon preparations.
“With a good road network, athletes can follow training sessions as designed by coaches, especially during speed endurance workouts,” Kiprotich said.
He explained that while some speed endurance training grounds are available, they cannot fully substitute endurance training, which is crucial for marathon runners. “Road racing is highly affected because it is a road race. An athlete must train on the road,” he added.
Peruth Chemutai, former Olympic champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, echoed similar concerns, noting that inadequate road infrastructure has pushed many Ugandan athletes to seek training opportunities abroad.“Most of my friends prefer training in Kenya because of the smooth roads, which are safer and reduce injuries,” Chemutai said.
Peter Chelangat, an athletics coach who trains reigning World Cross Country champion Jacob Kiplimo, revealed that many threshold and tempo training sessions are often shifted to Bulambuli and parts of Kween District due to the presence of better roads.
Chelangat said relocating training sessions is costly since it requires transportation, making it unaffordable for many upcoming athletes.
“This affects the development of young talent because many upcoming athletes cannot afford to train in these areas,” he explained.
He added that coaches feel constrained in nurturing future champions due to poor infrastructure. “We feel we are not doing our best as coaches when we leave upcoming champions behind because of roads. We appeal to elected leaders in the Sebei sub-region to advocate for better roads to transform athletics,” Chelangat said.
Some of the major training routes used by athletes include the 21-kilometer Kapchesombe–Kapkoch road linking Kapchorwa and Kween districts, the Kapenguria–Chema road within West Division connecting to Chema Sub-county, and the 45-kilometer Mulungbwa–Kaseko road in Kween District, along with some community roads in the region.
Due to the poor condition of these roads, some athletes, particularly marathon runners, are forced to train along the Mbale–Moroto road and the Kapchorwa–Suam road. Athletes say these routes are heavily used, have hard surfaces, and increase the risk of injuries during prolonged training.
Sebei is renowned for producing world-class long-distance runners who regularly compete in international marathons and track events.
Road conditions in training regions such as Kapchorwa, Kween, and surrounding areas are critical because athletes run most of their endurance and speed workouts on public roads.
Poor infrastructure not only increases injury risk but also limits the ability of coaches to implement structured training programs and hinders the development of emerging talent.
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