More than 1,000 athletes from West Nile have participated in the WENRECo Run since its launch in 2023, with nearly 100 advancing to national trials, others securing university bursaries and about five gaining employment in institutions with athletics teams.
The annual competition, spearheaded by West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo) in partnership with the Uganda Athletics Federation, is creating opportunities for young athletes in a region where limited sports infrastructure, few professional competitions and a shortage of athletics clubs have constrained talent development.
Now in its fourth edition, the initiative brings together athletes from across West Nile, with sports officers from local governments coordinating participation and helping identify promising runners.
WENRECo General Manager, Engineer Kenneth Kigumba, says the competition has begun exposing athletes to opportunities beyond the region, including national trials. He says the company and its partners want to strengthen the initiative to help athletes progress to international competition through further training.
Despite the opportunities created by the competition, sports officials say identifying talent is only the first step. Many athletes struggle to progress beyond inter-school competitions because they lack access to regular training, professional competitions and clubs that can support their development.
The challenge also affects athletes who participate in the WENRECo Run but are not selected for national trials. Sports officers say inadequate training opportunities make it difficult to retain these athletes and help them improve.
Arua City Sports Officer, Candia Ronald, acknowledges WENRECo’s contribution to athletics development but says more concerted efforts are needed to address the region’s underlying challenges.
Candia points to inadequate sports infrastructure, which limits athletes’ ability to train consistently and compete at higher levels after being identified through regional competitions.
The infrastructure challenge is also highlighted by Shida Leni, Uganda’s national record holder in the 400 metres, who says Barifa Stadium, also known as Inzikuru Stadium, remains below the standard required to support athletics development in the region.
Shida wants sports administrators to push for improvements to the facility and develop it into a national stadium for West Nile. She says this would enable the region to host major sporting events and provide athletes with better facilities for training and competition.
The WENRECo Run began in 2023 with 206 participants, 17 of whom were selected for national trials with guidance from sports officers across the region. Two of the athletes later represented Uganda at the All African Junior Athletics Championships held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in 2024.
Beyond competition, the initiative has also opened educational opportunities for some participants.
Alema Brian, who received a sports bursary from Ndejje University in 2024 after completing A-Level, says his performance in the 800 metres helped him secure the opportunity.
He believes the competition is helping athletes from West Nile develop their talent and access opportunities outside the region.
Agnes Nema Joy, a student at Kochi Secondary School in Koboko, is another participant hoping to benefit from the initiative. She says taking part in the competition has opened up opportunities to pursue athletics, adding that earlier fitness training helped prepare her for the event.
This year’s WENRECo Run attracted about 660 athletes from across West Nile. However, the technical team had not yet compiled and released the list of participants selected for national trials.
While the growing participation and opportunities for some athletes point to progress in identifying talent, sports officials say sustained investment in training facilities, competitions, and athlete development programmes will be necessary to ensure that more runners can advance beyond regional events and pursue athletics professionally-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
