When the curtain fell on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Sunday, August 2, Uganda returned home with three medals. On paper, it was another campaign that produced moments of pride. In reality, it also exposed a recurring weakness that continues to limit the country’s sporting ambitions. Team Uganda fielded 55 athletes (34 women and 21 men) across eight sporting disciplines. Australia topped the medal table with 70 gold medals, while Uganda finished with two silver medals and one bronze. Para-swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe delivered Uganda’s standout performance by winning silver in the women’s 100-metre breaststroke, reaffirming her place among the country’s most dependable international performers. The Gazelles also made history on their Commonwealth Games debut, claiming silver in the women’s 3×3 basketball tournament. Their commanding 21-9 semi-final victory over New Zealand secured a place in the final before they eventually settled for second after losing to Australia. Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai completed Uganda’s medal haul with bronze in the women’s 3,000-metre steeplechase in nine minutes 09.45 seconds. There were other encouraging performances beyond the podium. The She-Cranes finished sixth after a competitive 62-54 classification defeat to South Africa, reaffirming their status among the Commonwealth’s top netball nations. In boxing, Nuhu Batte reached the men’s welterweight (65kg) quarterfinals after beating India’s Aditya Pratap Yadav by a 3-2 split decision, having earlier defeated Nigeria’s Abdul Wahab Abdulmon 5-0. Super heavyweight Aziz Abdul, popularly known as “Ringo”, also reached the quarterfinals before being disqualified in the third round against England’s Damar Thomas. Yet the Games once again highlighted a familiar concern. Uganda continues to celebrate medals while investing too little in the systems that produce them. Before departure, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and National Council of Sports (NCS) general secretary Patrick Ogwel assured athletes of a daily allowance of $300. While athlete welfare is important, the greater question is whether Uganda invests enough in longterm preparation. Success at major international competitions is built on years of structured planning, consistent funding, quality coaching and scientific athlete development, not last-minute training camps. Glasgow itself provided that lesson. After Australia’s Victoria withdrew in 2024 because of rising costs, the Scottish city stepped in and successfully organised the Games. As attention turns to the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, Uganda’s preparations should begin now, not in the final year before the event.The post Glasgow 2026: Uganda’s medals hide deeper sporting cracks appeared first on The Observer Media Ltd.