President Museveni has commissioned a new hotel owned by celebrated long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei in Kapchorwa.
Cheptegei, a world and Olympic champion, said he established the hotel to contribute to national development goals and boost the tourism potential of his home region.
During the ceremony, Museveni congratulated Cheptegei for investing his earnings wisely rather than squandering them.
“We are going to support him,” the president said. “We are not allowed to make pledges during elections, but in principle, we have been supporting other people like manufacturers and hotel owners. So we shall support him — the policy is already there.”
Cheptegei said he decided to invest in Kapchorwa to create employment opportunities for locals.
“Once complete, the hotel will create more than 400 jobs for Ugandans. Already, over 100 people have been working on this project since February this year,” he said.
He explained that the project, estimated to cost Shs26 billion, is being financed from his personal savings.
“Your Excellency, I am your student and I think I’m getting it fairly right,” Cheptegei said.
“This project is from the savings I have made over the years. I first bought land in 2017 and gradually expanded it. The project will take Shs26 billion to complete, with the first phase costing Shs13 billion.”
The athlete also expressed gratitude to Museveni and the government for their continued support to sportsmen and women.
“We have been able to achieve a lot because of your support,” he said.
Museveni praised Cheptegei for setting a good example to other Ugandans, particularly the youth, by investing in productive ventures.
He noted that Cheptegei’s initiative would not only improve the local economy but also inspire young people to use their talents to build sustainable livelihoods.
