The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) will offer 10,000 US dollars towards the John Akii Bua Award every Olympic year.
William Blick, the UOC Acting President said this during the launch of the Akii Bua Award this morning at the Kololo Independence Ground.
Blick expressed happiness that the Award is instituted by the Police force where the late Akii Bua was a member.
The other bodies that were represented and pledged their support to the Award included National Council of Sports (NCS) and Uganda Athletics Federation. Jasper Aligawesa, the NCS Secretary General said they will also contribute 2,000 US dollars to the Award every year.
The award is meant to honour the late Akii Bua, a former police officer who stunned the world by winning a gold medal at the Munich Olympics in September 1972 in the 400m hurdles.
The Inspector General of Police Lt. General Kale Kayihura who was the Chief Guest said the launch was basically to do justice to the memory of Akii Bua, whom he described as a legend.
Kayihura said Akii Bua’s victory will be celebrated in the world for ever and because of that the Uganda Police Force decided to have an Award for him with 6,000 US dollars to cater for the Award every year in-terms of developing talents among the disadvantaged kids.
Senior Superintendent of Police Akii Bua died in 1997 aged 55.
The Award is targeted at helping youngsters aged 13-18 years with a passion for sports but who find difficulty in accessing education or better sports facilities and technical help. Kayihura said they will start this Award small and eventually bring many people on board because Akii Bua did the nation proud and no other Ugandan has yet won gold at an Olympic event.
Kayihura also said since many of the police officers have no stamina, they should emulate Akii Bua by keeping themselves fit.
The family of the late Akii Bua was represented by four of his children.
The launch started with a run from Emin Pasha Hotel in Nakasero to the Kololo Independence ground and a march back to the Hotel.
