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Mumias East MP Peter Salasya on Monday, December 9, 2024, sounded a warning to Ugandan members of parliament ahead of the 1500-metre race in Mombasa.

Salasya who is scheduled to take part in the race noted that he was fit from all the partying over the weekend and that the visiting Ugandan MPs would be in for a rude shock.

“Saah ii huyo Muganda ndio natafuta. Chang’aa yote imeshatoka kwa mwili; sasa saa hii ni mbio,” Salasya bragged. “Muganda atanitambua leo wapende wasipende…1500m lazima nichukuwe.”

Salasya’s excitement comes just one day after the Ugandan MPs thrashed their Kenyan counterparts 3-0 on Sunday, December 8, 2024, in a football match where they showed dominance in both the first and second half.

Uganda’s Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang scored twice to dash the hopes of Kenya’s Bunge FC who had anticipated a strong opening match on home soil.

The visitors’ exceptional tactical discipline and clinical finishing paid a lot towards their victory in what was otherwise a competitive encounter.

“Both teams exhibited exemplary sportsmanship throughout the match, reflecting the true essence of regional brotherhood. Bunge FC now lives to outshine their brotherly neighbours, another day,” Parliament said in a statement after the match.

Revenge

However, the Kenyan MPs had their revenge when the parliament’s men’s volleyball team defeated their Ugandan counterparts by winning three of the four sets played against the country’s one.

“Uganda took the early momentum, scoring the first point just 10 seconds into the match, igniting an animated atmosphere in the packed arena. Supporters of both nations waved flags, sang and danced transforming the venue into a vibrant carnival of sportsmanship and regional pride,” Parliament said in a statement.

Kenya’s domination became evident in the third and fourth sets as their aggressive spiking, precise blocking and seamless teamwork left Uganda struggling to catch up.

In another match played at the Makupa Stadium, Kenya’s women MPs’ basketball team was beaten by their Ugandan counterparts 66-13 who proved to be better shooters and had their runs well calculated.

Speaking after the game, Busia MP Catherine Omanyo, who was the standout performer for the Kenyan team, expressed her disappointment but remained optimistic about future games.

“It was a tough match, and while we didn’t come out on top this time, I’m proud of my team for the effort we put in today. We fought hard, but Uganda played exceptionally well, we will take this loss in stride, learn from our mistakes, and come back stronger,” Omanyo said.