IOC President Bach awards Ugandan President Museveni honorary gold medal

KAMPALA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, has recognized the effort of Uganda's president to contribute to the growth of sports by awarding him a medal.

Bach awarded President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni an honorary gold medal during his Wednesday visit to the State House in Entebbe.

The IOC president thanked the government of Uganda under the leadership of Museveni for always supporting sports, which has been proved by the many medals that the country won on the international stage, including the Olympics.

Museveni, accompanied by his wife and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaka Museveni, pledged that the government would provide land for building the new Uganda Olympic Committee headquarters.

Earlier, the IOC President Bach also met Uganda's Prime Minister Robina Nabbanja, who made it clear that the government will always support sports because it contributes a lot to the country in terms of nation-building.

Donald Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), told Xinhua that he is very humbled that President Museveni has pledged to provide land to build the new UOC headquarters. "The old headquarters have been in Lugogo for many years, and having a new home is our dream," added Rukare.

Bach's visit to Uganda comes as part of his broader tour of African countries, which includes Senegal, South Africa, Lesotho, Uganda and Rwanda. ■