Team Uganda will be aiming to extend its dominance at the Jubilee Live Free Bike Race when the fifth edition of the event takes place this Sunday at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, Kenya.
Uganda has won the flagship Main Race in each of the four previous editions and will return to Nairobi seeking to maintain that impressive record.
Jubilee Insurance has committed UGX 33 million in cash sponsorship towards Team Uganda’s participation in this year’s race.
Speaking during the team’s flag-off at Lubiri on Friday, Team Uganda Chef de Mission Ismail Lance Ssebayiga said the squad has been strengthened as it targets another successful outing.
“We are coming back to defend our title. Besides the usual names, we have added other top riders that will put us in a stronger position to compete for the top spots,” Ssebayiga said.
He named Lawrence Lorot, Mugalu Shafiq, Miiro Paul, Biyinzika Davis and Hatim Kagaba among the riders to watch, while revealing that Uganda will field a 100-member team.
Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi, who won the inaugural race in 2019, reclaimed the men’s Main Race title last year after edging defending champion and 2024 Olympian Charles Kagimu.
Uganda also secured silver in the women’s Main Race through Maria Aleper, while Willy Kato, Dominik Mugonda and Aziz Ssempijja completed a Ugandan sweep of the Black Mamba category, taking gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Augustine Ssebulime added another medal for Uganda with silver in the Para Cyclist category.
Ssebayiga, who also serves as director of Cycling Tour de Uganda, credited Jubilee Insurance for its continued support of Uganda’s participation in the event.
He said the Nairobi race has provided Ugandan cyclists with an important platform to compete against riders from across the region and improve their competitiveness.
Jubilee Insurance Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications Camilla Mindru challenged Team Uganda to build on last year’s success rather than rely on its previous achievements.
“Last year, you delivered strong performances across the different categories. That is a strong foundation, but we can aim even higher this year,” Mindru said.
The race is expected to attract thousands of cyclists, with last year’s edition drawing 3,500 participants from 20 countries.
This year’s event will feature six categories: Main Race, Team Race, Black Mamba, Family Fun Ride, Kiddies and Para Cyclist.
More than UGX 100 million will be up for grabs in the total prize purse.
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