Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei will captain Uganda’s 16-member team at the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the country seeks to extend its strong tradition on the global distance-running stage.
Uganda Athletics (UA) officially flagged off the team in Kampala on Wednesday ahead of the championships scheduled for September 19–20, with the delegation comprising eight men and eight women competing across the 1 Mile, 5km and half marathon (21km) events.
Cheptegei, Uganda’s multiple Olympic and World Championships gold medallist, headlines the men’s half marathon team and is among the leading contenders for the 21km title.
The women’s 5km team also features rising star Charity Cherop, who enjoyed a breakthrough outing at the 2026 World U20 Championships, winning 5000m gold and 3000m bronze.
The depth of Uganda’s delegation reflects the country’s growing emphasis on road running, with athletes set to battle for individual honours as well as the World’s Best Team titles.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Uganda Athletics president Dominic Otuchet expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to compete at the highest level.
“We believe this team is strong and ready to compete against the world’s best in Denmark,” Otuchet said.
The team was officially flagged off by National Council of Sports representative James Kasumba, who stood in for General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel.
Kasumba challenged the athletes, particularly those making their international breakthrough, to seize the opportunity and produce performances capable of attracting global attention.
Using an analogy about unexpected news making headlines, Kasumba told the athletes:
“If a dog bites a person, it’s not new, but a person biting a dog will quickly feature as a story on the world’s big news outlets like BBC.
To my newcomers on this team, go out there and become that person biting a dog.”
The championships have attracted 496 elite athletes from 85 countries, including 226 women and 270 men, who will compete for individual and team honours in the three road-racing categories.
The event is also expected to draw approximately 65,000 participants in the mass races.
Team Uganda
Women – Half Marathon: Esther Chebet, Esther Chekwemoi Yeko, Annet Chemengich Chelangat, Rebecca Chelangat.
Men – Half Marathon: Joshua Cheptegei, Mande Bushendich, Martin Kiprotich, Feb Chelogoi.
Women – 5km: Charity Cherop, Martha Chemusto.
Men – 5km: Alex Kiplangat, Kenneth Kiprop.
Women – 1 Mile: Felister Chekwemoi, Patience Cherop.
Men – 1 Mile: Silas Chemutai, Hosea Kiprop.
Apollo Musherure will lead the delegation, alongside coaches Grace Chesang and Alex Malinga.
