Celebrated International Sports Commentator Rob Walker in Uganda

KAMPALA - The Walker phrase that “Uganda one of the friendliest, most beautiful countries you can ever wish to visit,” melted millions of hearts in Uganda, a statement that many say made them feel proud of being Ugandans and is being used by the Ministry of Tourism, wildlife and antiquities in partnership with the Uganda Tourism Board and the Ministry of education and sports to promote Uganda more.

Rob Walker made the statements while Uganda's Peruth Chemutai won gold in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time on 9:01.45 at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Chemutai, created history by becoming Uganda's first woman to win an Olympic medal.

While in Uganda for eleven days, Rob Walker will have an interactive session with Sports Journalists before another session with other stakeholders particularly students at Makerere University Business School.

Martin Mugarra Bahinduka the State minister for Tourism says Walker is an ambassador of Uganda and thanked him for the numerous promotional activities while doing his job.

Meanwhile, Peter Ogwang the state minister in charge of sports requested the Uganda Tourism Board to include a visit by Walker to the National High Altitude Centre in Teyret, Kapchorwa.

On the other hand, the National Council of Sports Chairman Ambrose Tashobya says tourism and sport sit on the same podium and called on government to invest heavily on infrastructure in order to host international tournaments which will boost Uganda economically.

On his part, Paul Walker assured Ugandans that in Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda is still dominating the region for the next ten years or more.

“You are lucky to have two of the world’s best, im not surprised by their progress. Sport will change people’s mindset on Africa. Uganda is a hot topic of conversation because of the current champions you have,” he revealed. He also prayed that one day Africa hosts the World Athletics Championships. He said that he has always monitored Ugandan athletes from Boniface Kiprop, then Moses Kipsiro who he gave glowing tribute, and have now been replaced with Joshua and Jacob who have challenged the rivals Kenya and Ethopia.

Uganda Tourism Board will take Rob Walker to iconic places such as Murchison falls, Source of the Nile and also Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to have a glimpse of the gorillas.

About Rob Walker

Robert Joseph Walker born 13 March 1975 in Oxford, Oxfordshire is a British sports commentator, television presenter and freelance reporter, who has covered sports including tennis, snooker, darts, boxing, football, sailing, and athletics for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, Setanta Sports and the IAAF.

Since 2008 he has appeared in the role of master of ceremonies at major televised snooker tournaments, including the World Snooker Championship, where he uses the catchphrase "Let's get the boys on the baize". He has also presented a highlights show at the World Championship for the last two years called Snooker on the Red, featuring on the BBC Red Button and has been host of the Global Snooker Awards.

Walker is credited with coining nicknames for several leading snooker players to use in his introductions. Among these are The Magician for Shaun Murphy, The Force for Peter Ebdon and The Thunder from Down Under for Neil Robertson. He is also the commentator at the Action For Kids City Beach & Sitting Volleyball Championships.

Alongside this role on the BBC he has presented sailing for the BBC at the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London, he has commentated on biathlon, ski jumping, and cross-country skiing for the BBC at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014. He has reported on the London Marathon and Great North Run every year from 2009 to 2012 and from 2013 has commentated on the races for the BBC Red Button and BBC website. He has presented the Winmau World Masters in 2009 and reported at every BDO World Darts Championship from the Lakeside Country Club since 2010 alongside Colin Murray while presenting Darts Extra during the night. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup he travelled around South Africa for the BBC reporting with his namesake Dan Walker on the BBC Bus. Since 2013 he has also been the voiceover on BBC One's gameshow A Question of Sport.

In 2011, he joined the athletics team on Channel 4 which included the Indoor European Championships and World Championships alongside John Rawling, Iwan Thomas, Dean Macey, Katherine Merry, and Michael Johnson. He continued to work for Channel 4 in August/September 2012 when Walker began commentating on the athletics events at the 2012 Summer Paralympics for Channel 4 alongside Rawling, Danny Crates and Katherine Merry. He also commentated on Biathlon and Cross Country Skiing for Channel 4's Winter Paralympic Coverage.

He also worked for ITV for a brief time reporting on the Boat Race when they held the rights (these have since reverted to the BBC) and boxing, where he was a reporter on the Big Fight Live on ITV4: this coverage has also moved, to Channel 5. He also hosted parts of the 2015 Snooker World Grand Prix coverage on ITV4.

In 2018, he presented the Bowls: Scottish International Open for BBC Sport Scotland broadcast on BBC Two Scotland.