Stage Set for 24th Akii-Bua Memorial Championships

The stage is set for the 24th edition of the annual Akii-Bua Memorial Track and Field Championships, scheduled for June 13, 2026, at the Uganda Christian University (UCU) Sports Grounds in Mukono.

Organised by the Uganda Athletics, the event will feature 22 track and field disciplines in celebration of the life and legacy of Uganda’s athletics icon, John Akii-Bua.

The championships commemorate Akii-Bua’s historic achievement at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal in the 400m hurdles and set a new world and African record of 47.82 seconds.

Events lined up for this year’s competition include the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,500m, 3,000m, and 5,000m races for both men and women, as well as field events such as long jump, shot put, discus, and javelin.

Uganda Athletics will also use the championships as the final qualification event for the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships, scheduled for August 4–9 in Oregon. The meet will additionally serve as part of the preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to take place in Glasgow from July 27 to August 1.

Akii-Bua remains one of Uganda’s greatest sporting heroes. He initially specialised in the 110m hurdles before successfully transitioning to the 400m hurdles, where he achieved global recognition.

His gold-medal-winning performance in Munich not only earned him Olympic glory but also established a national record that still stands 54 years later. Remarkably, he achieved the feat with relatively limited international experience, having finished fourth at the 1970 Commonwealth Games.

In Munich, Akii-Bua defeated strong contenders including David Hemery of Great Britain and Ralph Mann of the United States, becoming the first athlete in history to run the 400m hurdles in under 48 seconds.

He was unable to defend his Olympic title after Uganda joined several nations in boycotting the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Beyond athletics, Akii-Bua served as a senior police officer, briefly worked as a coach, and later became a member of the National Council of Sports. He passed away in Kampala in 1997 at the age of 48, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of Ugandan athletes.

The 2026 edition of the Akii-Bua Memorial Championships is expected to attract some of the country’s top athletes as they seek qualification marks and prepare for major international competitions.