Ugandan Athlete, Joshua Cheptegei is back home after he broke a 16-year-old men’s 5000m world record at the season-opening Monaco Diamond League meet on Friday.
The 2019 men’s 10,000 world champion clocked in 12 minutes 35.36 seconds to shatter Bekele’s previous best of 12:37.35 which was set in 2004.
Cheptegei, who was in company of fellow athletes Stephen Kissa, Halima Nakaayi and Winnie Nanyondo flew into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi, Kenya early today aboard a Turkish Airlines.
According to Amb Patrick Mugoya, the Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the athletes were received at JKIA by Uganda High Commission officials in Nairobi, and were later escorted to Malaba Border by the Kenyan Diplomatic Police Escorts.
“The convoy safely arrived Malaba (Kenya-Uganda) Border at 12:36 pm after a 9-hour journey from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport-JKIA, Nairobi,” said Amb Patrick Mugoya.
He revealed that the convoy were received on arrival at Malaba border by the Deputy Resident District Commissioner Tororo, Mr. Were Yahaya.
Speaking on behalf of other athletes, Cheptegei, conveyed a sincere message of gratitude to the officials of the Uganda High Commission for the warm reception that was accorded to him and the entire Ugandan Team.
“This is a true fulfillment and true proof that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is still alive and that the Government is still at work even beyond Uganda’s borders,” Cheptegei said.
Africa Tembelea understands that as per latest COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures, the athletes will go into 14 days’ isolation.
