Uganda makes a dozen medals at Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia

With a few hours to the climax of the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia city of Riyadh, Uganda continues to attain ground.
By close of business on Wednesday, the East African country had accumulated as many as 12 medals.
Halima Nakaayi (800m), Charity Cherop (5000m) and Leni Shida (200m) all won medals on the night.
Nakaayi came second in 800m final to take silver. Cherop also bagged silver in the competitive 5000m final and Shida settled for bronze in the women’s 200m race after finishing third in the pack.
“This is a good push factor as I come to my 1500m race on Thursday night” Nakaayi said in regards to the upcoming race alongside Knight Aciru.
Cherop finished second in the 5000m women’s final whilst Shida powered her way to third place to take bronze.
The three latest medals add the current tally to 12 following Samuel Simba (Silver) and Abel Chebet’s bronze in the men’s 10,000m event.
Rebecca Chelangat won gold in the women’s 10,000m final to add to the already collected medals in the bag for Uganda from the previous week.
Hungary based swimmer Anna Gloria Muzito got two gold medals from the 50m and 100 freestyle races and a silver in 200m freestyle.
The other bronze came from Boxing (Alfred Ojok), Table Tennis doubles women team (Parvin Judith Nangonzi and Jemimah Nakawala) as well as swimmer Jesse Ssuubi Ssengonzi (OLY) in the 200m butterfly race.
Uganda athletics team has the hopes for more medals with the pending finals involving Halima Nakaayi and Knigh Aciru (1500m), Tom Dradriga (200m), mixed relays and the 5000m race that will have Simba and Leonard Chemutai.
Uganda has competed in all the Islamic Solidarity Games since Mecca (2005).
Meanwhile, the Uganda Wrestling team lost their second game on Thursday morning as Rebecca Israel Among lost to Nigerian Esther Olawale at the Boulevard Arena.
Para Powerlifter Denis Mbaziira will compete on Friday, 21st November 2025.