Ugandan cyclists dominated the inaugural Tembea Cycling Tour after sweeping the top three positions in the men’s category at the regional road cycling competition held on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Lorot Lawrence, Charles Kagimu and Mugalu Shafic emerged as the overall men’s winners at the event, which brought together cyclists from Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and South Sudan.
The three winners are Ugandan nationals based in Kenya, where they are affiliated with cycling clubs.
They were rewarded with Turkish Airlines return air tickets to destinations of their choice around the world in recognition of their performances.
In the women’s category, Trinitah Namukasa, Jucinta Namubiru and Jemima Tendo Namwajje emerged as the top performers. They received air tickets sponsored by Safarilink for travel within East Africa.
The first edition of the Tembea Cycling Tour was initiated by Ngamije Mugisha Junior, chief executive of Tembea Safaris, a Uganda-based corporate tour company, and organised by the company. Mwebaza Sports managed the event.
The competition was designed to promote healthy lifestyles, green mobility, sustainable tourism and sports tourism while creating a platform for cyclists from across East Africa to compete and interact.
The Minister of Health, who had been expected to attend, was represented by Dr Robert Mutumba, who officially flagged off the race.
The Ministry of Health’s participation highlighted the role of sporting activities in promoting physical exercise, preventive health and healthier lifestyles.
Beyond competition, organisers used the event to promote cycling as an environmentally friendly mode of transport and an opportunity to showcase East Africa’s tourism potential.
Tembea Safaris said the successful inaugural edition marked an important step towards building a regional cycling community and strengthening cooperation through sport.
The organisers intend to expand the competition in 2027, with the second edition expected to attract cyclists from across Africa.
Their ambition is to bring together cyclists representing all African cycling federations in Uganda, positioning the event as a major continental road cycling platform.
The organisers hope the tour will continue to encourage young people to take up cycling while creating opportunities for sports tourism, environmental awareness and regional integration.
