ENTEBBE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Uganda will send a 69-member team to compete in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni asked Ugandan athletes to be disciplined when he flagged off the delegation on Thursday here.

"You must be fit, have stamina, eat well and also be disciplined to be able to perform and win medals," Museveni said.

Uganda's 2012 London Olympic gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich will however miss the Commonwealth Games as he has opted to run in the Hamburg Marathon instead.

At the last Commonwealth Games held in Glasglow, Scotland in 2014, Uganda won one gold medal and four bronze.

"I think this time we have been paid our allowances early and also received training facilitation," squash player Michael Kawooya said.

The badminton coach Gilbert Ofuyuru also expressed his happiness with the way the government has this time responded quickly to take care of the athletes.