Imagine a world where the spirit of competition transcends borders, offering hope and opportunity to those who've lost everything. This is the reality for twelve talented U18 athletes selected for the World Athletics Athlete Refugee Team, a program poised to change lives. These young athletes, chosen after trials in Kampala, Uganda, are now in the running to represent the first Youth Refugee Olympic Team at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
This initiative, a collaborative effort between the Olympic Refuge Foundation (ORF), World Athletics, the National Olympic Committee (NOC), Uganda Athletics, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), marks a significant expansion of the program. It's been nine years since the first refugee team was established in Kenya, and now Uganda is joining the movement.
The selected athletes, including sprinters Alini Asinati and Moise Kalume, and middle-distance runners Evaline Baako and Emanuel Dhegbo, will form the core of this pioneering team. They'll be competing from October 30th to November 15th, 2026. This selection is in addition to the World Athletics U20 Athlete Refugee Team, which is based in Kenya.
The Trials: A Day of Hope and New Beginnings
The final trials, held at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole, brought together 90 pre-selected refugee athletes from four settlements: Adjumani, Rwamwanja, Kyangwali, and Kampala. The event was coordinated by Lydia Murungi Tomusange, the program manager of the Association of Volunteers in International Service (AVSI), an Italian civil society organization in Uganda.
"For a long time, we wanted to include an individual sport, and athletics seemed like the most possible opportunity for us to include," said Tomusange.
For many of the athletes, it was their first time competing in a large stadium and using starting blocks. The experience ignited their passion for running, fueled by the hope of improving their families' lives.
A Celebration of Sport and Solidarity
Representing the Ugandan government at the finals was Milton Chebet, Assistant General Secretary – Technical, National Council of Sports. He was joined by Dr. Donald Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee; Dominic Otucet, President of Uganda Athletics; and Beatrice Ayikoru, World Athletics Council Member, Secretary General of the Uganda Olympic Committee and General Secretary of Uganda Athletics. Jackson Tuwei, President of Athletics Kenya and a World Athletics Vice President, also attended, symbolizing a 'passing of the baton' and an opportunity to share experiences.
"This is a historic day because for the very first time, we have a refugees' trial here in the national stadium," said Otucet. "I had always asked our NOC (Uganda Olympic Committee) to include athletics in the refugee programme, because the refugee programmes in Uganda had started long ago, but they were only for other sports. I am glad that our NOC agreed to include athletics. I am very excited, today I am the happiest person here."
Impressed by the talent, Tuwei added, "Sport is for all of us and so we don't want to leave anybody out, particularly those who are talented and do not normally have a chance to do that".
The Broader Context: Uganda's Role and the Challenges Ahead
Uganda's open-door policy has made it a haven for nearly 2 million displaced or stateless people as of the end of 2024, according to the UNHCR. The majority of refugees in Uganda are from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country requires $361 million annually for its refugee programs, but is currently operating with less than 40% of that amount due to a reduction in international aid. This funding gap poses a significant challenge to supporting these programs.
"Athletics is one of the leading sports that has opened its doors to refugee athletes at the elite level," said Alice Annibali, World Athletics Community Relations and Public Affairs Manager. "We select some of them to compete in our events around the globe, assist them in entering international competitions and treat them just like any other elite athlete."
Looking Ahead: Inspiration and Mentorship
This year, safeguarding awareness campaigns have been intensified to educate refugee athletes about the World Athletics Safeguarding Policy. The goal is to create a safe space for them to express themselves and receive the necessary support.
The Refugee Athletes' Programme was established in 2016 by the International Olympic Committee and the UNHCR. Kenya contributed the most competitors to the inaugural Refugee Olympic Team (EOR) at the Rio 2016 Games.
The young athletes in Uganda have inspiring role models, including Beatrice Ayikoru, a former refugee herself. They will also benefit from the mentorship of marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, who will continue his role as the official mentor for the refugee team in 2026.
"It is because of past experience where I realised the impact of my interaction with the refugee athletes," he said. "I want to show them the way forward. We are fighting with their minds because refugees are equal to us, and they need to believe it."
U18 Athlete Refugee Squad in Uganda
Women
* 100m: Alini Asinati (COD)
* 200m: Alini Ntakirutimana (COD)
* 400m: Amida Maburuka (SSD)
* 800m: Flavia Atayo (SSD), Florence Masumbe (COD)
* 1500m: Evaline Baako (SSD)
Men
* 100m: Emmanuel Talipanaw (COD)
* 200m: Moise Kalume (COD)
* 400m: Bhut Mariel (SSD)
* 800m: Rachid Rochene (COD)
* 1500m: Emanuel Dhegbo (COD)
* 3000m: Lole Clement (SSD)
But here's where it gets controversial... The reduction in international aid to Uganda raises questions about the long-term sustainability of these programs. What do you think? Are there alternative funding models that could ensure the continued support of these athletes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
