Athletes go ‘missing’ after Commonwealth Games ends

Several athletes who have competed in the Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow have reportedly gone missing following the end of the event. Police Scotland reported receiving various unconfirmed reports of athletes who are unaccounted for. The incident has not been the first of its kind, as similar occurrences have been noted in previous Commonwealth Games, including the 2014 Games held in Glasgow, where dozens of athletes were also reported missing.

In the current case, four boxers from Uganda, namely Nuhu Batte, Angel Katushabe, Ibrahim Kemis, and Emily Nakalema, have not returned home with the rest of their team. One of the boxers claimed that the athletes intended to seek asylum in Scotland, citing better training facilities and opportunities. The Uganda team has since departed for their home country.

While the rest of the Ugandan squad has returned home, the missing boxers remain unaccounted for. The 2014 Commonwealth Games also saw two Ugandan rugby players disappear and later be found playing rugby in Cardiff. One of them, Philip Pariyo, was later imprisoned for four and a half years for raping a woman in Cardiff. Another athlete, Cyrille Tchatchet II, disappeared from the Games to escape Cameroon, later returning in 2026 to win a silver medal.

The Home Office conducts enhanced checks on individuals ahead of major sporting events like the Games, working in collaboration with event sponsors to strengthen entry controls. Any future asylum claims will be evaluated on their individual merits.