Ngora District has become the latest hub in Uganda’s growing badminton movement, as a nationwide grassroots development programme gains momentum.

The two-day badminton workshop at Ngora High School marked the second phase of a broader effort to spread the sport across the country, targeting schools, teachers, students, and local communities alike.

Leading the programme, Badminton Uganda CEO Simon Mugabi emphasised that the long-term vision is to take badminton beyond urban centres and embed it within rural communities.

With participation from teachers representing over 15 schools, the training workshop focused on equipping educators with the technical and practical knowledge needed to introduce and sustain the sport of badminton in their respective institutions.

“We are looking at a holistic approach,” Mugabi noted. “Teachers, students, and the community all play a role. When teachers are empowered, they pass on these skills, and that is how the sport grows.”

The two-day workshop combined theory with hands-on training, covering fundamental techniques such as racket handling, footwork, serving, and both offensive and defensive play. For many participants, it was their first structured exposure to badminton coaching.

Emily Caroline, an ICT teacher and sports enthusiast at Ngora High School, highlighted the impact of the training, especially for promoting girls’ participation in sports.

“This is a great opportunity to make the game popular,” she said. “We’ve learned essential skills like forehand and backhand techniques, movement, and positioning. I’m excited to pass this on to my students.”

Students themselves were equally inspired. lyna Achom Aya, a Form 1 student, shared her ambitions after attending the workshop. “I’ve learned serving, attacking, and defensive formations. I want to continue improving and eventually represent Uganda internationally,” she said.

For Physical Education teachers, the workshop filled a critical gap between casual play and structured coaching. Simon Peter Okwakol, a PE teacher at Ngora High School, explained how the training transformed his approach.

“Before, I would just let students play without proper guidance,” he admitted. “Now I understand footwork, service techniques, and how to teach them effectively. This will make a big difference in how students learn and perform.”

Similarly, Erasmus Levy from Cobwin Seed Secondary School described the experience as transformative. “We’ve learned how to handle the shuttlecock, proper footwork, and game rules—things we had never fully understood before,” he said. “Now we can confidently teach and expand this knowledge to others.”

The Ngora training is part of an ambitious plan to reach more than 30 districts in the current phase, with the ultimate goal of covering the entire country. Beyond basic training, the programme also supports the development of technical officials, ensuring a strong foundation for competitive play and organized tournaments.

In districts like Ngora, participation in national school competitions has historically been limited. However, with trained teachers and growing student interest, that is expected to change.

Community engagement is also a key component. As residents observe and participate in the sport, the federation believes curiosity will turn into enthusiasm—further accelerating the sport’s spread.

The combination of teacher training, student involvement, and community outreach is creating a sustainable pathway for growth.

As Erasmus aptly put it, “When more workshops like this are organized, the whole country will have this game at hand and Uganda’s flag will fly high.”

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• Event: Uganda International Badminton Challenge 2026
• Dates: 18th – 22nd February 2026
• Venue: Lugogo Indoor Arena – Kampala
• Categories: Singles (Men & Women), Doubles (Men & Women), Mixed Doubles
• Prize Fund: $20,000

The 2026 Uganda International Badminton Challenge will officially shuttle off on Wednesday, 18th February 2026 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.

The world’s best Badminton players have already confirmed to take part in this championship as they target to attain crucial points and better their global ranking.

The World’s body has so far recorded 41 countries ready to compete in the event.

Simon Mugabi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) addressed the media at City Tyres head offices on sixth Street, Industrial Area on Tuesday.

Mugabi was flanked by Muhammed Sserugo, vice chairman of Uganda Badminton Association, Harriet Nattabi (Umpire) and City Tyres’ Herbert Bashasha.

“The Uganda International Badminton Challenge 2026 is here and the top 48 players in the World are all expected in the singles category. This is a good step forward for our local players who will definitely compete against the world’s cream and improve their skill set” Mugabi remarked.

Sserugo lauded the special role of the media in promotion of the sport.

“Uganda Badminton Association appreciates the special role done by the media to promote this game. We are humbled for the gesture as you market the sport” Sserugo lauded.

Some of the Ugandan players led by Gladys Mbabazi and Muzafaru Lubega were also present.

“We are from the All Africa Badminton Championship in Botswana we garnered some experience coming to the Uganda International tournament. We are ready for the championship” Mbabazi noted.

Fadila Mohammed, a gold medalist at the recently concluded continental event in Botswana is expected to lead Uganda’s quest for top honours, alongside bronze medalist (in doubles) Tracy Naluwooza.

Herbert Bashasha, the marketing manager at Mandela Group of Companies commended the leadership of Uganda Badminton Association, appreciating the rest of the sponsors on board.

“Badminton has become part of our daily sponsorship package. The sport of Badminton is a growing sport globally. I thank the rest of the sponsors who have come on board” Bashasha remarked.

Prize money:

A total fund of $20,000 is up for grabs for the outstanding top performers in the different categories; singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

The tournament has been played since 2004 and has the crucial 4000 points that the players need coming to the May cycle for the Olympics Los Angeles 2028 games.

The qualification round will shuttle off on Wednesday, 18th February 2026. The tournament will climax on Sunday, 22nd February 2026.

The creame-de-la-creame male players of the game as Shi Yuqi (China), Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Thailand), Anders Antonsen (Denmark), Jonatan Christie (Indonesia) and Li Shifeng (China), among others are expected to attend.

Some of the leading female players in the world are An Se Young (South Korea), Wang Zhi Yi (China), Akane Yamaguchi (Japan) and others.

The leading doubles’ team has Kim Won Ho and Seo Seung Jae (South Korea), Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik (Malaysia) as well as Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin (Malaysia); among others.

Sponsors & partners:

Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) has joined hands with a number of partners and sponsors as Mandela Group of Companies, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC), National Council of Sports (NCS), Bank of Baroda, Shuttle Time, Plascon, Badminton World Federation (BWF), Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA).

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​Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi has officially transitioned from a rising prospect to a continental powerhouse.

In a historic performance in Botswana, the 18-year-old sensation clinched the gold medal at the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships, becoming the first Ugandan woman to ever reach the top of the podium in this prestigious event.

​The road to gold was anything but easy. Standing across the net in the final was South Africa’s top seed and the continent’s number four, Johanita Scholtz.

With the home crowd firmly behind her, Scholtz dominated the opening set, winning 21-14 and leaving Shamika with a massive mountain to climb.

​Many athletes would have folded under the pressure of a hostile arena and an early deficit, but Shamika leaned on the mental toughness that has defined her young career.

​Recognising that her initial approach wasn’t working, Shamika made a tactical pivot in the second set. She slowed the tempo, focused on precision over power, and forced Scholtz into uncharacteristic errors.

The shift worked perfectly, Shamika mirrored the opening score with a 21-14 win, forcing a high-stakes third set. As the decider began, the physical toll of the tournament became evident.

“I was exhausted,” Shamika said before adding; “But my father kept telling me, ‘one more to go.’”

​Driven by those words and a relentless will to win, she pushed through the fatigue. She controlled the final set with clinical execution, winning 21-16 to secure the championship and ignite celebrations across the Ugandan sports fraternity.

​After sweeping three gold medals at the All Africa U-19 Championships in Mauritius, she has now proven that she is the undisputed queen of the senior circuit as well.

​Her victory isn’t just a personal milestone but also a statement for Ugandan badminton. By taking down the continent’s elite on their own soil, Shamika has set a new standard for what young Ugandan athletes can achieve on the international stage.

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