KAMPALA — Team Uganda experienced a day of mixed fortunes at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with middle-distance runner Halima Nakaayi progressing to the women’s 800 metres semi-finals, while the She Cranes suffered their first defeat of the tournament and Uganda exited the men’s long jump and light heavyweight boxing competitions.
The biggest positive for Uganda came on the athletics track, where Halima Nakaayi safely advanced to the semi-finals after finishing third in Heat Three of the women’s 800 metres.
The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) congratulated the former world champion, saying: “Halima secured her place in the Women’s 800m semi-finals after finishing third in Heat 3. Congratulations, and best wishes in the next round.”
Nakaayi, one of Uganda’s leading medal hopes in athletics, is seeking to add a Commonwealth Games medal to an impressive career that includes the 2019 World Athletics Championships title. She is among eight Ugandan athletes representing the country in athletics at the Glasgow Games.
However, it was disappointment in the men’s long jump, where David Berkham Otim narrowly missed out on a place in the final.
According to the Uganda Athletics fraternity, Otim registered jumps of 7.07 metres, 7.09 metres and 6.86 metres during the qualification round but fell short of the mark required to progress.
“Hard luck to Uganda’s Otim David Berkham at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. He recorded jumps of 7.07m, 7.09m, and 6.86m in the men’s long jump qualification, missing out on a place in the final. Wishing him the very best in the competitions ahead,” Uganda Athletics said in a statement.
In boxing, Uganda’s campaign suffered another setback after Alfred Ojok was eliminated in the Round of 16 of the men’s 80kg division.
Ojok lost 5-0 by unanimous decision to England’s Dimeji Shittu, bringing his Commonwealth Games journey to an end.
“The journey ends here for Alfred Ojok from Uganda. A hard-fought Round of 16 contest sees the star fall 5-0 to England’s Dimeji Shittu by unanimous decision in Glasgow,” the Uganda Olympic Committee said following the bout.
Meanwhile, the She Cranes tasted defeat for the first time in Glasgow after falling 55-49 to world No. 4 Jamaica in a fiercely contested Pool B encounter.
Uganda had entered the match on the back of victories over Wales and Trinidad and Tobago and made a bright start, leading after the opening quarter. However, Jamaica fought back to take control in the second period before holding off a spirited Ugandan comeback in the closing stages.
“The She Cranes suffer their first defeat of the Commonwealth Games, falling to world No. 4 Jamaica after a fiercely contested battle,” the Uganda Olympic Committee posted after the match.
The result leaves Uganda still in contention for a place in the knockout stages but facing a tougher path in the remaining group matches.
Despite the mixed results, Uganda has already enjoyed memorable moments in Glasgow, highlighted by Husnah Kukundakwe’s historic silver medal in the women’s SB8 100m breaststroke—the country’s first medal of the Games, first-ever Commonwealth Games swimming medal, and first medal in a Para sport at the Commonwealth Games. Uganda has also celebrated success in youth table tennis, with Patience Anyango winning the Under-15 girls’ singles title at the ITTF Africa Youth Championships in Ghana.
Team Uganda continues its campaign across athletics, netball, boxing, swimming and other disciplines as the Commonwealth Games enter their decisive stages.