Ugandan president rewards Olympic gold medal winner

Entebbe (Uganda), Aug 16 (IANS): Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni rewarded Steven Kiprotich, gold medal winner at the London Olympics, with 200 million shillings ($81,300).

Museveni also told Kiprotich, who won the marathon, that he would build a three bedroom house for his parents as requested, reports Xinhua.

Museveni was hosting Kiprotich here 40 km south of the capital Kampala soon after he returned from London where he ended a 40-year-long wait for the East African country to win an Olympic gold.

Uganda last won an Olympic gold in 1972 when John Akii Bua won the 400m hurdles race in Munich.

“I am so happy for all that has been done for me and my parents,” said Kiprotich.

Museveni pledged that a high altitude training facility in the eastern part of the country would be ready in one year and that any medal winner would get financial support and job placement if they wanted.

A local newspaper, New Vision daily has begun a fundraising drive to collect $500,000 that will be given to Kiprotich.