President Museveni Commissions Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today commissioned the Teryet National High Altitude Training Centre in Kapchorwa District.

The state-of-the-art facility, situated on 45 hectares at an altitude of over 2,500 meters above sea level, will cater to the training needs of athletes from Uganda and other countries.
The center includes amenities such as an athletic track, artificial turf track, field track, hostel block, external kitchen, and assorted equipment, among others, at a cost of over Shs 29 billion.

The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, commissioned the facility upon arrival and later inspected and toured the hostel, kitchen, and other structures. They also met with athletes at the main track field, where they had a cordial interaction.

President Museveni congratulated the sports fraternity on acquiring the state-of-the-art facility, which he said would produce world-class athletes. He provided a brief account of the center’s genesis and highlighted the benefits of training in high-altitude areas.

“In sports, I am very glad that our people started excelling using their talents, beginning with pioneers like Kiprotich and the Sabiny man Koskei, who won a silver medal in 1970. After that, due to chaos, only Akii-Bua managed to achieve something in 1972, and then no more,” he said.

“Because of the chaos, sports were no longer valued. But when new talents started emerging, I supported the idea of developing this facility because I am a sportsman myself. I play football. I realized that our people from mountainous high-altitude areas have a natural advantage we should promote. In high-altitude conditions, the lungs become more efficient and use less oxygen,” he explained.

President Museveni further emphasized the benefits of high-altitude training for improving lung efficiency. “Training in high-altitude areas is very beneficial because there is less oxygen here. When your lungs adapt to using little oxygen, they become more efficient. That’s how the idea of this training center was conceived,” he said.

He noted that despite numerous demands, the government readily supported the construction of the center because of its unique significance. “I am glad we have built it. The track is excellent, but the accommodation needs improvement. I have given guidance to the contractors. This is a goldmine, and I am happy it has been accomplished,” the President stated.

On the issue of building hotels in the area, raised by the Minister of Water and Environment, Hon. Sam Cheptoris, the President said the private sector would be encouraged to invest. “We have built the hostel, but I want the capacity increased to accommodate more than 24 people at a time. I am very happy to open this facility,” he added.

The Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo, commended President Museveni for the facility, which she said has brought essential services closer to athletes who previously had to cross into Kenya for training.

Maama Janet highlighted the journey leading to the center’s establishment.
“The journey that has brought us here today started a few years ago after the heroic exploits of our sons Moses Kipsiro and Stephen Kiprotich raised our flag on the global stage. Recognizing the abundance of talent in the Sebei region, the Ministry of Education and Sports consulted with the Kapchorwa District local government to establish a modern sports facility for our athletes,” she said.

She added, “President Museveni decided to build the center to honor Stephen Kiprotich, who won a gold medal at the London Summer Olympics in 2012.” She also praised the President for his unwavering support of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

The First Lady expressed her appreciation for the resilience of athletes from the Sebei region who consistently raised Uganda’s flag high, even with inadequate facilities.
“This facility is not just a physical structure but a beacon of hope and aspiration for athletes across our nation. It is our version of a theater of dreams. We must ensure it produces more Cheptegeis and Kiprotichs to raise our flag globally,” she stated.

Hon. Cheptoris urged the government to prioritize water provision for irrigation to prevent vandalism of water pipes by locals.
The Minister of State for Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, assured President Museveni that athletes’ concerns about appreciation tokens were being addressed.

The athletes’ representative, Mr. Joshua Cheptegei, thanked the President for his continued support.
“Peruth Chemutai and I trained here before. I can confirm that the track is the best. Thank you for your continuous support. The center is not only for athletic excellence but has also attracted tourists from around the world. International athletes come here,” he said.

The event was attended by ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, and other dignitaries.