Mary Cholhok has signed a multi-year deal with the Queensland Firebirds.

Cholhok has represented Uganda since 2018 and was part of the She Cranes’ 2019 and 2023 World Cup team.

The star goaler has spent the past six seasons with English Netball Superleague club Loughborough Lightning. 

The 27-year-old scored a league-high 975 goals in 2024, including 50 goals in the Lightning’s Grand Final win over Manchester Thunder.

Cholhok is looking forward to joining the world’s best league in 2025. 

“I am so excited to be joining the Firebirds,” Cholhok said as quoted by the League website.

“It has always been my dream to play in the best league in the world.

“Every Saturday morning when I wake up I watch highlights of SSN and now it is surreal that I am going to be a part of the league.

“I am so grateful to the Firebirds for this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and meet the Firebirds family.”

Firebirds Head Coach Kiri Wills is thrilled to have locked Cholhok into her lineup.

“I tried for many seasons to lure Mary to New Zealand to join me at the Northern Stars without success,” Wills said.

“So to know Mary will now be joining me at the Firebirds in 2025 is a real thrill and I can’t wait to see what she can do in the SSN.

“Mary’s height is obviously a key asset but she’s developed her game so much in England. Her athleticism makes her difficult for defenders to manage. As a result, her accuracy and volume are incredible.

“I just know Mary is going to be a wonderful member of our Purple Family and look forward to welcoming her to Brisbane in a few weeks.”

The 2024 National Sevens series gets underway this weekend in Entebbe.

The tournament will be played at the Works Grounds from August 10-11. It will kick off at 8 a.m. local time (EAT) on Saturday morning with Buffaloes taking on Elgon Wolves in the opener.

The Pools (Men and Women) for the Entebbe 7s were released on Friday.

Black Pirates were the men’s top seed from the 2023 series, followed by podium finishers Platinum Credit Heathens and KCB KOBs. They are, respectively, in pools A, B, and C.

Men’s Pools for Entebbe 7s (Invitational*)

• Pool A: Pirates, Rhinos, Impis, Kisubi Pacers*.
• Pool B: Heathens, Walukuba, Rams, Jaguars*.
• Pool C: KOBs, Mongers, Warriors, Kyambogo*.
• Pool D: Hippos, Buffaloes, Elgon Wolves, Eagles*.

In the women’s competition, the top seed from 2023 Black Pearls are in Pool A and runners-up Avengers in Pool B.

Women’s Pools for Entebbe 7s (Invitational*)

• Pool A: Black Pearls, Nile Rapids, She Wolves, Panthers*.
• Pool B: Avengers, Thunderbirds, Kitgum Queens, Kisubi Lady Pacers*.

In 2022, the last time Entebbe hosted a National 7s circuit, Heathens and Black Pearls were men’s and women’s Cup winners.

Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have officially been withdrawn from the Men’s 5,000m race at the Paris Olympic Games.

According to a statement from Uganda’s Athletics head coach at the game Faustino Kiwa, the duo was unable to recover from the gruelling 10,000m race in which Cheptegei won gold and Kiplimo finished 8th.

“I wish to inform Ugandans that our heroes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have been officially withdrawn from the 5,000m race due on Wednesday 7th August 2024,” the statement reads.

“This follows their failure to fully recover from the gruelling 10,000m race in which both athletes competed on Friday 2nd August 2024. The event left them fatigued with leg and arm muscle pains. Efforts by the Physio Teams to resuscitate the athletes to their full normal form has not been successful.

“The Coaching staff in consultation with the athletes, taking into consideration the coaching principle “athlete first, winning second”, decided to withdraw them from the 5,000m to give them ample time to fully recover.

“This now leaves Oscar Chelimo as the lone gallant soldier holding the Ugandan Flag in the 5,000m Race.”

This will be the first time in six years for Kiplimo to depart a major championship without a medal.

Denis Tela and Anne Abeja were the best performers at the August MTN Monthly Tee played on Saturday, August 3 at Entebbe Golf Club.

Tela returned to the clubhouse with the best score of the day to emerge as the overall winner of the one-day tournament. He carded a nett score of 65.

Meanwhile, Abeja topped the Ladies Group A with a 1-under 70. Bridget Basiima, the overall winner of last year, was a shot behind to take the runner-up spot.

Michael Tumusiime topped the Men’s Group A with 72 beating John Muchiri on countback.

Oscar Semawere (69) beat Marvin Kagoro by one shot to top Group B while club chairman Jacob Byamukama (70) claimed Group C beating Fred Kabanda on countback.

The next Monthly Tee will be played on 21st September.

MTN MONTHLY TEE – AUGUST TOP PERFORMERS

OVERALL WINNER

• Tela Dennis – 65 nett

GROUP A MEN

• WINNER: Tumusiime Micheal – 72 c/b
• RUNNER UP: Muchiri John – 72

GROUP B MEN

• WINNER: Semawere Oscar – 69
• RUNNER UP: Kagoro Marvin – 70

GROUP C MEN

• WINNER: Byamukama Jacob – 70 c/b
• RUNNER UP: Kabanda Fred – 70

GROUP A LADIES

• WINNER: Abeja Anne – 70
• RUNNER UP: Basiima Bridget – 71

GROUP B LADIES

• WINNER: Tumusiime Pamela – 67
• RUNNER UP: Peace Hellen – 69

WINNER SENIORS 55 +

• Susan Knight – 71

WINNER GUESTS

• Mabano Robert – 69 c/b

Ugandan long-distance star Joshua Cheptegei has won Uganda’s first gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Cheptegei triumphed in the thrilling Men’s 10,000m final in an Olympic Record time of 26:43.14.

He smashed Kenenisa Bekele’s long-standing record of 27:01.17 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed silver medal with a time of 26:43.44 while USA’s Grant Fisher took bronze.

Meanwhile, Jacob Kiplimo fell off in the final 200m and finished eighth while Martin Kiprotich, the other Ugandan in the race, finished 22nd but posted his personal best of 28:20.72.

With the victory, Cheptegei is now both an Olympic and world champion in the 10000m. He had previously won gold in the 5,000m at the Tokyo Olympics but settled for silver in the 10,000m.

Cheptegei is also a World Record holder in both the 10,000m and 5,000m.

Uganda eagerly anticipates its first medals on Friday, August 2 at the ongoing Olympics in the French city of Paris.

Three of Uganda’s athletes at the Games will be competing in the final of the Men’s 10,000m with the race scheduled for 10:00 pm (East African Time).

The three are multiple World Champion Joshua Cheptegei, World Cross Country champion Jacob Kiplimo and first-time Olympian Martin Kiprotich.

The nation’s hopes rest on Cheptegei who earlier in the year said he was focused on winning the 10,000m Olympic gold and Kiplimo who has been in good form.

At the previous Olympics in Tokyo, Cheptegei and Kiplimo secured silver and bronze respectively in the event.

Cheptegei and Kiplimo will be looking to dethrone defending champion Selemon Barega who forms a strong three-man Ethiopian team that also has  Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi.

The 2024-25 FUFA Drum was officially launched on Tuesday at the Ugandan football HQ in Mengo.

The function was graced by FUFA Executive Member Rogers Byamukama who is also the chairman of the Organizing Committee alongside MTN Uganda Sponsorships and Events Manager John Paul Okwir and representatives from other tournament partners.

Byamukama said that FUFA is pleased with the progress of the tournament since its inception in 2019 and believes the 5th edition will be even better.

“As FUFA, we are proud of the successful strides we have made in the FUFA Drum. The tournament is unique and gives a sense of belonging to every Ugandan. We believe the 2024 edition will even be bigger and better.”

MTN Ugandan joined the tournament last season and Okwi revealed there is a lot in stock to ensure the tournament’s them is upheld.

“There are not so many events or properties that galvanize the entire country like we have seen with the FUFA Drum. We came on board last season and we were impressed with what we saw. As MTN, we have a lot in stock to ensure the theme of celebrating ancestry is upheld.”

The draws for the tournament were also conducted and just like last season, the 2024-25 edition will have a Preliminary Round where eight teams face off before determining who makes it to the group.

The Preliminary Round fixtures will kick off on Saturday, August 24, the date earmarked for the start of the tournament.

The Preliminary Round Fixtures will be as follows;

1. Bunyoro vs Rwenzori
2. Bugisu vs Karamoja
3. Kampala vs Bukedi
4. Ankole vs Sebei

Last season’s semifinalists were seeded while the losing quarterfinalists were also in the same pot and thus placed in different groups.

The Groups are as follows;

Group A

• West Nile
• Acholi
• Winner Preliminary Game 2

Group B

• Lango
• Buganda
• Winner Preliminary Game 4

Group C

• Busoga
• Kigezi
• Winner Preliminary Game 1

Group D

• Teso
• Tooro
• Winner Preliminary Game 3

Ugandan swimmer Gloria Muzito shattered the national record in the Women’s 100m Freestyle, clocking an impressive 55.95 seconds at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday afternoon.

Muzito had previously set the record at 56.01 seconds earlier this year in Ghana at the African Games when she claimed bronze.

However, despite her record-breaking swim, Muzito could only finish 8th in Heat 4 which was won by 2020 silver medalist Siobhan Bernadette Haughey of Hong Kong.

Across all four heats, Muzito’s time placed her 22nd out of 29 swimmers, with only the top 16 advancing to the semifinals.

Muzito will build on this performance on her debut in the Olympic Games as she grows her career.

The other Ugandan swimmer at the games, Jesse Ssengozi, will take the Pool on Friday in the 100m Butterfly.

Fort Portal City has clinched a coveted spot in the semifinals of the MTN Tooro Masaza Cup following a commanding 3-0 victory over Bunyangabu County.

The match played at St. Leo’s College Playground in Kabura saw Fort Portal City assert their dominance right from the onset thanks to the exceptional performance of Vincent Ayebale who netted all three goals.

Ayebale opened the scoring in the 6th minute of the game to put Fort Portal on the path to victory.

Despite relentless efforts from Bunyangabu County to equalize, they could not break through Fort Portal’s resolute defence.

Ayebale struck again in the 87th minute and completed his hattrick in added time, ensuring Fort Portal’s progression to the next stage.

Vander Apuuli, head coach of Fort Portal City, praised his team’s collective effort and resilience. “We wanted a win because it was the only sure way of qualifying. I am happy that within a short time of the game our boys had scored that important goal, and in the second half, they sealed the win,” Apuuli said. “My boys have all the confidence, and we want to assure our fans that we shall play in the finals,” he added.

Fort Portal City joins Ntoroko, Mwenge South, and Burahya in the semifinals, with the eliminated teams being Kyaka, Bunyangabu, Mwenge North, Kibaale, and Kitagwenda.

Harriet Nyakake, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom, graced the match and expressed her gratitude to MTN Uganda for their sponsorship of the tournament.

“I want to appreciate all the participating Tooro Kingdom counties and our sponsors MTN; they have done a very great job in our kingdom,” Nyakake said.

Additionally, Wandela Micheal Enganjani, the Tooro Kingdom Sports Minister, congratulated the qualifying teams and emphasized the importance of health initiatives, urging for continuous HIV/AIDS testing, condom use, and abstinence to combat the spread of the disease. Honourable Ernest Kalege, the county chief of Fort Portal, echoed these sentiments, calling for support of King Oyo’s mission to eradicate AIDS from Tooro Kingdom by 2040.

The Tooro Kingdom MTN Amasaza Cup continues to be a platform not only for showcasing football talent but also for promoting vital health messages. As the tournament progresses, anticipation builds for the semifinal clashes, with Fort Portal City confidently aiming for a spot in the finals.

Uganda Rugby Cranes settled for fifth place in the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup after edging Senegal 34-31 in a nail-biting encounter played at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

The decisive Sunday afternoon moment came when Joseph Aredo successfully converted a sudden death penalty after normal time had ended 23-23 and Extra Time 31-31.

Ivan Magomu gave Uganda the lead with a penalty but Senegal benefitted from Aredo’s kick that was intercepted for a touchdown under the posts and would stretch the lead to 10-03 before Magomu responded to make it a four-point game. However, Senegal scored a try shortly after the restart to take the lead to 17-06

Alex Aturinda grounded from the back of the scrum and Magomu converted to cut the deficit to 3 points (17-13) by halftime.

Senegal stretched the lead with two penalties to start the second half before Byron Oketayot broke the line to set up debutant Arnold Ocen to touchdown under the posts with Magomu converting and following it up with a penalty to level the score.

Magomu would miss a match-winning penalty and the game went into extra time. The skipper missed the first kickoff extra time and Uganda changed the kicker with Joseph Aredo taking over the duties. The makeshift centre converted his first kick and Senegal responded in equal measure.

Timothy Kisiga scored for Uganda at the start of the second half of extra time but Uganda’s defence couldn’t hold for eight minutes as Senegal scored a try and nearly won the game but the conversion hit the uprights.