Uganda to the World: Here are Uganda’s Guinness World Records

Thousands are rooting for Ugandan chef, Dorcus Bashema Kirabo, alias Mama D, as she works around the clock to achieve the Guinness World Record for the longest solo cooking session.

The longest cooking marathon (individual) is 119 hours, 57 minutes and16 seconds and was achieved by Alan Fisher (Ireland) in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from 28 September to 3 October 2023.

By press time, Mama D had cooked for 76 hours with over 80 meals cooked. The famous chef started her challenge on December 23, 2023 in Kira, Wakiso district. The cooking session started at 10:00 am and her target is 121-plus hours to break the current record.

Now let us dive into the fascinating world of Guinness World Records in Uganda, where remarkable individuals and extraordinary feats take center stage. In this realm of record-breaking endeavors, discover the stories that define Uganda’s exceptional contributions to the global stage. From cultural marvels to individual triumphs, the Guinness World Records of Uganda stand as a testament to the nation’s rich tapestry of accomplishment and unparalleled spirit.

Youngest Average (Median) Population

The people of Uganda have the lowest median average age of any nation on Earth. With an average age of 15.1 years (15 years for men; 15.2 years for women) the people of Uganda as a whole are 34.8 years younger than the “oldest” nation on Earth (Monaco). This was recorded 31st December 2012.

Most physically Active Country

According to a study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) published in September 2018, Ugandans are the most physically active, with 94.5% having sufficient regular exercise, defined as having 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense or 75 minutes of rigorous activity per week.

Most Thunder Days per year

Thunder-days – world In Tororo, Uganda an average of 251 days of thunder per annum was recorded for the 10-year period 1967-76.

Most Aggressive butterfly

The world’s most aggressive butterfly is Charaxes candiope of Uganda. This very powerful flier actively dive-bombs people intruding upon its territory.

Youngest Reigning Monarch

King Oyo – aka Rukirabasaija. In 2011, Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV – became the 19-year-old ruler of Toro, a kingdom in Uganda, East Africa. Born on 16 April 1992, he came to power at the age of just three and now rules over 3% of Uganda’s 33-million-strong population. Despite his title, the King’s influence is largely symbolic, as the country is governed by an elected president.

 Longest Applause

The record attempt was organised “to send a message to the world that regardless of the struggles and difficulties, we must have room for gratitude and thanksgiving.” The longest applause is 3 hr 16 min 1 sec, achieved by Grace Lubega Matovu and Clap For Jesus Team (all Uganda) in Kampala, Uganda, on 30 July 2023.

First Dwarf Giraffe

Two wild male giraffes (Giraffa sp.) displaying signs of skeletal dysplasia – which can result in forms of dwarfism that affect bone development and often result in a shorter stature – were documented for the first time, as reported in BMC Research Notes on 30 December 2020.

One giraffe, known as Gimli (after the famous Lord of the Rings character), was first observed in Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda in 2015 and as of 2017 it had an estimated total height of 282.9 cm (9 ft 3 in).

The second, known as Nigel, was photographed in 2018 at a private farm in Namibia, measuring approximately 254.4 cm (8 ft 4 in) from hoof to the top of the ossicones (horns). Dysplasia (unprecedented in this species to date) was evidenced by extremely short radius and metacarpal bones relative to giraffes of a similar age.

Most horns on a Giraffe

Most giraffes bear three small horn-like projections called ossicones on their heads, formed from ossified cartilage.

However, Rothschild’s giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi, discovered in 1901 in Uganda and sometimes classed as a separate species in its own right, has five ossicones.

In addition to the normal three (a pair on top of its head and a single one at the centre of its brow), it has an extra pair at the back of its head, behind its ears.

Shortest Hostage Rescue

On 4 July 1976, Israeli forces executed the shortest full-scale military rescue of one hundred hostages, mostly Israelis or Jews, held by pro-Palestinian hijackers at Entebbe Airport, Uganda.

An hour before midnight on 3-4 July, four air force C-130 Hercules aircraft flew into the airport after a 2,500-mile flight behind a scheduled cargo flight.

An assault group consisting of 200 troops stormed the building where the hostages were being held and, after a 35-minute battle in which a number of Ugandan soldiers, seven hijackers, three hostages and the leader of the assault force were killed, the surviving hostages were flown to Israel via Nairobi, Kenya. It was a staggeringly successful operation and the entire raid took only two hours from start to finish.

Largest Ugandan Rolex

The largest Ugandan rolex is 204.6 kg (451 lb) and was created by Raymond Kahuma (Uganda), in Kasokoso, Wakiso District, Uganda, on 4 November 2021.

Raymond and his team had been working for months on the preparation of the record to make sure everything went smoothly on the day. The Ugandan Rolex measured 2.32 meters in length and 0.66 meters at its thickest diameter.

Fastest run 10,000 Metres (Male)

The fastest run outdoor 10,000 metres by a male athlete is 26 minutes 11.00 seconds, achieved by Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) on 7 October 2020 in Valencia, Spain.

Cheptegei took more than six seconds off the previous record, which had stood since 2005. It was his third world record of 2020, having set new bests for 5 km on the road and the 5,000 m on the track.

Fastest Run 5,000 metres (Male)

The fastest run outdoor 5,000 metres by a male athlete is 12 minutes 35.36 seconds, achieved by Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) on 14 August 2020 at Stade Louis II in Monaco.

Cheptegei had a remarkable 2020, where he overcame the disruption caused by COVID to break three world records: 5,000 m and 10,000 m on the track and 5 km on the road. In Monaco, he averaged 4.03 minutes a mile to take two seconds off Kenenisa Bekele’s previous record, which had stood since 2004.

Fastest time to Make 3 Chapatis

The fastest time to make three chapatis is 3 min 10.22 sec, and was achieved by Raymond Kahuma a Ugandan, while in Nairobi, Kenya, on 19 November 2023. Raymond is a YouTuber who has previously achieved a record for the Largest Ugandan rolex. He also has plans to attempt a record for the Largest Kenyan smocha which is a chapati wrapped around a smoked sausage.

Youngest person to score points at a Diamond League athletics meeting

The youngest person to score points at an IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting is Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda, b. 14 November 2000), who finished 7th in the men’s 3,000 m in Doha, Qatar, on 5 May 2017 aged 16 years 172 days. He ran a personal best of 7:43.73.

In 2017, the IAAF changed its point-scoring system to award points to athletes finishing in the top 8 of each event. It had previously awarded points to the top 3 (2010–15) and top 6 (2016).

Highest Partnership in a Twenty20 International Women’s Tournament match

Prosscovia Alako (116) and Rita Musamali (103 not out) put on 227 runs for the second wicket for Uganda Women against Mali Women in a Kwibuka Women’s Twenty20 Tournament match at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali City, Rwanda, on 20 June 2019. The pair set up Uganda’s total of 314 for 2 – the highest team score in a men’s or women’s Twenty20 International.

The 227-run stand beat Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine’s 182-run first-wicket partnership for New Zealand Women, set exactly a year earlier on 20 June 2018. This was beaten by Fatuma Kibasu and Neema Pius, who racked up 183 runs for the first wicket for Tanzania Women, playing against Mali Women, at the Kwibuka tournament on 22 June 2019.

Opener Alako’s 71-ball 116 featured 15 fours. She was run out off the penultimate ball of the innings. Uganda captain Musamali’s 61-ball 103 not out also featured 15 fours. Mali Women were bowled out for 10 runs (in 11.1 overs) in reply. The margin of victory – 304 runs – was a record for a men’s or women’s Twenty20 International.