Why Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo Were Left Out of Uganda's 2026 Commonwealth Games Squad

Uganda's athletics team is set to enter a new era as star long-distance runners Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have been left out of the provisional squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The celebrated duo, who have dominated the 10,000m and 5,000m events in recent years, will not compete due to the exclusion of the marathon from the Games' schedule.

Both Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have recently transitioned to road racing, making them ineligible for the track-focused competition.

Dominic Otucet, President of the Uganda Athletics Federation (UAF), acknowledged the impact of their absence but highlighted the opportunity it creates for the next generation of athletes.

"We are going to depend on our upcoming athletes in 10,000m and 5,000m, where we have promising young men and women, then middle distance," he stated.

The federation has been allocated 16 slots for athletics and has trimmed an initial list of 110 athletes down to a provisional 27. The final team will consist of eight men and eight women.

Among the rising stars expected to fill the void are Herbert Chebet, Kenneth Kiprop, and Dan Chibet. The team will be spearheaded by Olympic steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai, who is aiming for gold after a fall relegated her to a bronze medal at the Birmingham 2022 Games.

"We have young athletes that have graduated to seniors who we feel will be good enough even to replace the big names," Otucet added, expressing confidence in the new-look team.

At the 2022 Games in Birmingham, Uganda secured five medals. Kiplimo won double gold in the 10,000m and 5,000m, Victor Kiplangat claimed marathon gold, while Chemutai and boxer Teddy Nakimuli earned bronze medals.

However, with the marathon and other road events removed from the Glasgow 2026 program to reduce costs and operational complexity, Uganda's medal aspirations will now rest on its track and middle-distance competitors.