KAMPALA - History-making Jacob Kiplimo has today made his first public appearance in Uganda in the wake of his world-shattering feat in the half marathon.

Kiplimo, the first man to run 21km under 57 minutes when he lowered the world record from 57.23 to 56.41 in Barcelona at the Barcelona Half Marathon on Sunday (16 February), was 'unveiled' by the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF) at a press conference at their Metropole House headquarters on Entebbe Road.

The UAF also used the presser to reveal they were celebrating a monumental 100 years of existence as a Federation this year, and to launch the Source of The Nile Half Marathon which will take place in Jinja this Sunday, February 23rd, 2025.

A true global icon and superstar, Kiplimo is a multiple major medallist and holder of several other national and global records on the track. He was quick to thank government for their role in his and the general improvement of athletics in the country and on the international stage, and his words were echoed by UAF President Dominic Etuchet who hailed government for it's increasing and timely financial and moral support to his Federation and the athletes.

On government's part, Assistant NCS General Secretary Joseph Oluga, standing in for General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel, congratulated Kiplimo and UAF while underlining the importance of - along with boosted funding for the priority sport - the deliberate strategy to identify and nurture top class athletes through infrastructure development, pointing to the recent unveiling of the Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre, the ongoing construction of two major multi-sports stadiums in Lira and Hoima (they both have running tracks), and the plans to have such facilities in every region in the country.