Uganda’s weightlifter Julius Ssekitoleko has reportedly gone missing in Japan ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics games.
He was part of Team Uganda’s first batch that has been training for the games in the Izumisano City.
The developements come through after Ssekitoleko was deemed ineligible to participate in the games.
Ssekitoleko who was to take part in the 67kg weight category, was expected to fly back home next week, but he was nowhere to be seen in his hotel room for the routine PCR Covid19 test.
“One member of the Ugandan delegation, which the city received as a host town, has gone missing and cannot be reached,” statement from Izumisano city reads per AFP.
“The city is making all efforts to search for the individual. We have reported the matter to police.”
Ssekitoleko had joined the pending list waiting approval having won a bronze in 67kgs at the Africa weightlifting championships in Kenya Nairobi.
Uganda’s team at the pre-Games training camp in Izumisano, in Osaka region, earlier returned two positive tests but the two athletes have since recovered and joined the whole team.
Earlier this month, President Yoweri Museveni cautioned athletes to be disciplined and follow Covid19 guidelines so that they do not embarrass the country.
Last month, Uganda’s Rugby player James Odongo also went missing from the Uganda Rugby 7’s team camp in Monaco, France as the side prepared for the Olympic repechage tournament.
In 2017, three Ugandan Boxers David Ayiti, Geoffrey Kakeeto and Muzamiru Kakande vanished in Hamburg Germany after the AIBA World Championships.
While three rugby players Ramathan Govule, Brian Kikaawa and Fred Odur also disappeared during a 7s tournament in Munich in 2017.
The delayed Olympics games will get underway on 23 July 2021.
