Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei will lead Uganda’s 16-member team to the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 19-20.
Uganda Athletics announced the eight-man, eight-woman squad on Thursday, with athletes selected to compete across the half marathon, 5km and one-mile races.
The championship gives Uganda another opportunity to challenge for global honours, with medals available for individual performances and team competitions across the three distances.
Cheptegei provides the biggest name in the travelling contingent and will compete in the men’s half marathon alongside Mande Bushendich, Martin Kiprotich and Feb Chelogoi.
His selection places the Olympic champion at the centre of Uganda’s medal ambitions as he continues testing himself over longer distances on the road.
Uganda will also send a four-woman half-marathon team comprising Esther Chebet, Esther Chekwemoi Yeko, Annet Chemengich Chelangat and Rebecca Chelangat.
In the half marathon, countries will compete for team honours using the combined performances of their three fastest male or female finishers.
That format gives Uganda two opportunities for team medals alongside the individual honours available to Cheptegei and his fellow half-marathon runners.
“We believe this team is strong and ready to compete against the world’s best in Denmark,” Uganda Athletics publicity official Namayo Mawerere said.
Uganda has also entered Charity Cherop and Martha Chemusto in the women’s 5km, while Alex Kiplangat and Kenneth Kiprop contest the men’s race.
Felister Chekwemoi and Patience Cherop will represent Uganda in the women’s one-mile event, with Silas Chemutai and Hosea Kiprop selected for the men.
The one-mile and 5km team competitions will operate differently, combining the results of two men and two women representing the same country.
Apollo Musherure will lead the Ugandan delegation, while Grace Chesang and Alex Malinga have been named among the coaches travelling to Denmark.
Uganda Athletics president Dominic Otucet has wished the athletes well and called upon Ugandans to support the team during their Copenhagen campaign.
For Cheptegei, Copenhagen presents another major international assignment as he continues transitioning from the track towards longer road-running challenges.
The Ugandan has built his reputation through major championship performances, making his presence an important boost for a team seeking individual and collective success.
Uganda will arrive in Copenhagen pursuing medals on two fronts, with individual performances complemented by team competitions across the championship programme.