Jordan Schleck Ssekanwagi retained the Jubilee Live Free Race men’s main title on Sunday, leading a Ugandan sweep of 6 categories in Nairobi.
Ssekanwagi finished ahead of Kenya’s Evans Wangai, while fellow Ugandan Charles Kagimu finnished third. The victory gave Uganda its fifth consecutive win in the flagship race.
Uganda sent a 100-rider contingent to Kenya with Shs33m in support from Jubilee Insurance Uganda. The team had set out to defend the main race title and challenge for more wins across the programme.
For Ssekanwagi, it was another chapter in a strong history at the event. He won the inaugural race in 2019 and returned to the top of the podium last year after edging Kagimu.
The Ugandan victories extended beyond the main race. Dominic Mugonda won the Black Mamba category ahead of Kenya’s Ian Mambo, with Samuel Ssabagwanyi finishing third.
Mary Aleper retained her U23 women’s title, while Shafic Mugalu led a Ugandan 1-2 in the U23 men’s race ahead of Lawrence Lorot.
Uganda also won both listed para categories. Ronald Yiga finished ahead of Kenyans Ismail Kira and Gabriel Ambuko, while Martin Katerega beat Silas Agesa and Josphat Kamau in the hearing-impaired category.
Before the race, Jubilee Insurance’s senior manager for marketing and communications, Camilla Mindru, had urged the team to build on its previous results.
“Last year, you delivered strong performances across the different categories. That is a strong foundation, but we can aim even higher this year,” Mindru said at the team’s flag-off.
“The goal should be to compete for the top spot in every category and see how far we can push ourselves as Team Uganda.”
Uganda answered that challenge with wins in the men’s main race, Black Mamba, U23 women’s and men’s races, and both listed para categories.