Detained Ugandan athlete expected in Dutch court Monday over passport validity claims

Ugandan distance runner Sam Yeko is expected to appear before a Dutch court on Monday after being detained at Amsterdam's Schiphol International Airport over claims that he was travelling on an invalid passport, according to Uganda Athletics.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Uganda Athletics said Yeko was detained by Dutch immigration authorities upon arrival in the Netherlands on June 11 while travelling to participate in international competitions in Europe.

The athlete had received a one-year Schengen visa on June 8 and was initially scheduled to compete in the Corrida de Langueux road race in France on June 13.

However, Uganda Athletics General Secretary Beatrice Ayikoru says he later received confirmation to compete in the 55th Gouden Spike track and field meeting in Leiden, the Netherlands, and opted for the track event instead.

Uganda Athletics said immigration officials at Schiphol Airport detained Yeko on allegations that his passport was invalid.

The federation said it immediately contacted Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which linked it to the Ugandan Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, which oversees the East African country’s diplomatic affairs in the Netherlands.

"The matter is being handled with the support of the Ugandan Embassy in Brussels, the Minister of Education and Sports and appropriate legal representation secured through the athlete management," the statement said.

Ayikoru revealed that Yeko is expected to appear in court on Monday morning to answer questions relating to the passport in question.

Uganda Athletics expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved, noting that “the athlete has held the passport since 2023 and has travelled internationally on several occasions without reported difficulties.”

The Dutch Embassy in Uganda did not immediately comment on the Uganda Athletics statement, which unfolded on Sunday outside working hours.

The case comes days after Ugandan journalist and lawyer activist Agather Atuhaire said she was detained at Schiphol Airport on June 6, 2026, alleging she was held for extended passport verification despite having previously travelled through the same airport multiple times. She said she was eventually cleared after a long delay, describing the incident as distressing.

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