Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) has on Wednesday unveiled long distance runner Joshua Cheptegei as the tourism ambassador for the country.

According to UTB CEO, Lilly Ajarova, this development that was revealed at Uganda Golf Club is in line with their goal of reinstating tourism in Uganda after being greatly affected by the Coronavirus pandemic that forced tourism to grind to a halt.

While speaking at the event, Cheptegei, a World Champion and four Records Holder noted that he is happy to express solidarity with all the players in the tourism industry as they seek to bounce from the impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

“I am deeply grateful to UTB for having chosen me for this huge responsibility, to be my country’s ambassador. I look forward to sharing my Ugandan story to the rest of the world. In the same breath, I wish to call upon every Ugandan, especially those in the diaspora to make it a point to visit and discover more about this our country,” Cheptegei said.

According to reports, the partnership will see UTB and Cheptegei collaborate for support towards the latter’s athletics activities at both domestic and international levels and in turn use his support and platforms to promote Uganda as a tourist destination.

Cheptegei will be in Monaco this weekend to make another attempt at breaking the 5km World Record he set at the Monaco Herculis Run last year.

He is however due to compete on Sunday February 14, 2021 at the 11th edition of the Monaco Run, which promises to be full of promise for the Ugandan star.

Cheptegei marked the history of the Monaco Principality by breaking the world record for the 5km road race with a time of 12:51 on February 16, 2020.