2016 was a year that had different sports personalities in Uganda excelling on the big stage.
From football to rugby and athletics several personalities achieved including either setting new records or breaking the jink.
The trio of Dennis Masinde Onyango (football), David Emong (Athletics) and Phillip Wokorach (Rugby) however stood out from the rest.
And the three will battle for the coveted 2016 sports personality of the year award organized by the sports scribes under their umbrella body Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA).
The awards gala to reward the excelling sports personalities is slated for Friday, July 14 at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala with First son; Maj. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba expected to be the guest of honour.
A look at the sports personality of the year nominees
Dennis Onyango
Onyango needs no introduction to majority of the Ugandans especially for what he has achieved in the past two or three years.
The Uganda Cranes footballer had a splendid year (2016) playing an integral role for both his club (Mamelodi Sundowns) and the national team.
At Sundowns, the shot stopper helped the team win a domestic double (the Premier Soccer League and MTN Telcom 8 Cup).
He was named the best goalkeeper in the league and saved two penalties in the Telcom 8 Cup as Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Kaizer Chiefs.
The success transited even on the continent as Onyango and his club went ahead to become kings of Africa, the first time in the club’s history.
Onyango was later named the best African footballer based in Africa, the first Ugandan to attain the fete but also the first goalkeeper to bag the prize.
On the national team, he was instrumental as the Cranes broke the 39 jinx of not playing at the African Cup of Nations.
David Emong
Emong became the first Ugandan to win a medal at the Paralympic games.
He finished second in 1500m at the Rio, Paralympic games to bag silver.
Phillip Wokorach
Christened the king of side stepping, Phillip Wokorach had a blissful 2016 helping Uganda to win the Africa Cup Rugby 7s.
His brilliant performance earned him a deal at Kenya’s Kabras Sugar where currently plies his trade.
The other categories include, team of the year, best organized sports event among others.
Below is a list of all the nominees and winners of 2016.
NILE SPECIAL USPA SPORTS PERSONALITIES OF 2016
Nominees for Sports Personality of the year
Denis Onyango (Football)
David Emong (Paralympics)
Phillip Wokorach (Rugby)
Nominees for Team of the year
Uganda Cranes Rugby Cranes City Oilers
Nominations for Sports Event of the year
National Open Pool Championship Uganda Golf Open
BEST RUN FEDERATION OF 2016
To be announced at the gala individual discipline winners
BOXER OF THE YEAR 2016
SHADIR MUSA
MOTORCROSS RIDER OF THE YEAR 2016
AVIV ORLAND
MALE CHESS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
HAROLD WANYAMA
FEMALE CHESS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
JOYCE KABENGANO
MALE CRICKETER OF THE YEAR 2016
HENRY SSENYONDO
FEMALE CRICKETER OF THE YEAR 2016
STEPHANIE NAMPINA
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2016
DAVID EMONG
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2016
JULIET CHEKWEL
MALE BADMINTON PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
BRIAN KASIRYE
FEMALE BADMINTON PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
SHAMIM BANGI
MALE TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
GILTON CHELIBE
FEMALE TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
HALIMA NAMBOZO
SQUASH PLAYER O THE YEAR 2016
IAN RUKUNYA
WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR 2016 KHALID BATUUSA
MALE POOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
SULA MATOVU
FEMALE POOL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
VICKY NAMUYANJA
KICK BOXER OF THE YEAR 2016
PATRICIA APOLOT
BODYBUILDER OF THE YEAR 2016
ANDREW SSENOGA
MALE RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
PHILIP WOKORACH
FEMALE RUGBY PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
GRACE AUMA
MALE WOODBALLPLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
ONESMUS ATAMBA
FEMALE WOODBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
LILLIAN ZAWEDDE
NETBALLER OF THE YEAR 2016
JOAN NAMPUNGU
MALE HANDBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
FELIX MUKUNZI
FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
LILLIAN AJIO
MALE DARTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
JACOB OKIDI
FEMALE DARTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
DINAH AMODING
MOTORSPORT CREW OF THE YEAR 2016
JAS MANGAT & JOSEPH KAMYA
MALE GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2016
RONALD OTILE
FEMALE GOLFER OF THE YEAR 2016
FLAVIA NAMAKULA
MALE BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
JIMMY ENABU
FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
JUDITH NANSOBYA
FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR 2016
DENIS ONYANGO
FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR 2016
HASFA NASSUNA
LUDO PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
SARAH NAMUBIRU
MALE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
INNOCENT MBABALI
FEMALE HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2016
DOREEN ASIIMWE
MALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR 2016
NICHOLAS MALANI
FEMALE SWIMMER OF THE YEAR 2016
KIRABO NAMUTEBI
2016 monthly winners
January : Ronald Ssebuguzi and Leon Ssenyange
February : Lillian Zawedde
March: Keneddy Katende and Ronald Serugo
April: Betway Kobs
May: Lillian Zawedde and Onesmus Atamba
June: Patricia Apolot
July: Dorcus Ajok
August : Ronald Otile
September: David Emong
October : Denis Onyango
November: Pool Cranes
December: Ndejje University