Over the weekend, Uganda Aquatics provided an update on preparations for the forthcoming Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships, with President Moses Mwase and Meet Coordinator Eric Kisero outlining the country’s readiness to welcome athletes from across the region.

The championships, which will run from October 21 to 25, will bring together athletes from several countries in a competition that forms part of Uganda’s broader efforts to develop aquatic sports beyond traditional pool swimming.

The swimming competition will take place at KISU in Kabira from October 21 to 24 before the programme moves to open water swimming and water polo. The inclusion of the three disciplines reflects Uganda Aquatics’ ambition to expand opportunities for athletes and promote the development of different aquatic sports.

According to Mwase, the organising committee has been working across several areas, including marketing, medical services, transportation, accommodation and Team Uganda preparations, to ensure the successful delivery of the championships.

The event is expected to attract athletes from approximately 11 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan and Ethiopia. Seven countries had confirmed their participation at the time of the update, with organisers anticipating further entries, particularly from Southern Africa.

However, the timing of the championships could affect participation from some countries in Zone IV, which had recently concluded its own competition in Botswana.

As hosts, Uganda will field two swimming teams, Team A and Team B, allowing more local athletes to compete against regional opposition.

Kisero revealed that Uganda had selected 89 swimmers for the championships, alongside 22 water polo players who will compete in the junior and senior categories.

The swimming competition will feature age groups ranging from under-12 to 17 and over, while water polo will have under-16 and 17-and-over categories. Both boys and girls will participate in the water polo competition as part of Uganda’s development programme.

Team Uganda has already embarked on preparations, with athletes attending an ongoing training camp. At the time of the update, the team had completed three of its six scheduled training days, with approximately 80 per cent of the selected athletes in attendance.

The remaining swimmers, including those currently outside the country, are expected to join the team ahead of the championships.

Uganda will also be seeking to maintain its position as defending champions, having won the competition in Nairobi, Bujumbura and Kigali in the previous three editions.

One of the significant additions to this year’s championships is open water swimming, which Uganda will host for the first time.

The national open water championships, scheduled for October 10 at Entebbe Sailing Club, will serve as a test event ahead of the regional competition. The event will allow organisers to assess the venue, test the arrangements and address any logistical challenges before the arrival of international teams.

The Zone III open water competition will feature three distances. Swimmers aged 15 and under will compete over 3 kilometres, while those aged 16 and above will take on the 5-kilometre race. Masters swimmers, aged 25 and above, will compete over 1.5 kilometres.

A mixed relay will also feature, with each team comprising two men and two women, each swimming 1,500 metres.

Kisero noted that preparations for open water swimming require particular attention to safety and infrastructure. Organisers are working to ensure the competition course is secure and that the necessary facilities, including a floating pontoon, are in place.

The introduction of open water swimming is part of Uganda Aquatics’ wider strategy to develop other disciplines recognised under aquatics, with ambitions to introduce additional events such as diving and artistic swimming in the future.

Water polo will also feature in the championships, with Uganda fielding junior and senior teams in a mixed competition involving both boys and girls.

The competition will follow a points-based format, with the final structure dependent on the number of participating countries.

The inclusion of water polo alongside swimming and open water swimming provides another opportunity for Uganda and other participating nations to develop their aquatic programmes.

With the championships approaching, the Local Organising Committee, chaired by Mary-Anne Isabirye, has been coordinating preparations across various departments to ensure that the event runs smoothly.

Athletes and officials participating in the championships will be accommodated at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The accommodation arrangements form part of the broader logistical preparations being coordinated by the organising committee.

Uganda Aquatics is also working with several corporate partners and government institutions to support the championships. Uganda Development Bank has expressed interest in supporting the event, while Uganda Airlines will serve as the official carrier. Tororo Cement, Plascon and Aquafina have also agreed to work with the organisers.

Government support, particularly in security and other logistical areas, is also expected to contribute to the successful hosting of the championships.

Mwase expressed optimism about the preparations, noting that the organising committee was working with different stakeholders to ensure that all necessary arrangements are completed in time.

Beyond the competition itself, the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships provide Uganda with an opportunity to strengthen its position as a regional host for aquatic sports while offering local athletes valuable international exposure.

With preparations progressing and several countries already confirming participation, Uganda Aquatics is working towards delivering five days of competition that will bring together athletes from across the region and support the continued development of aquatic sports in Africa.

The post Uganda Aquatics gives update on Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

The pool at Kampala Parents School in Naguru is set for a weekend of speed, excitement and fierce competition as the Dolphins Fast & Furious Swimming Gala 2026 brings together some of Uganda’s finest young swimmers.

The highly anticipated gala has attracted 600 swimmers from 37 clubs, promising a competitive weekend as athletes battle for personal bests, medals, records and the coveted title of the fastest swimmer in their respective age groups.

The swimmers will compete across the four major strokes: freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly, with younger swimmers taking part in 25-metre races, while the older age groups will compete over 50 metres. The gala will also feature Individual Medley (IM) events across all age groups, adding another test of versatility and endurance.

For Dolphins Swim Club Kampala coach Tony Kasujja, the name Fast & Furious perfectly captures what spectators should expect. 

“Fast & Furious is an event where everything is so fast. It is an explosive event, very exciting, with a lot of speed and a lot of water all over the place,” Kasujja said.

After weeks of intensive preparation, Kasujja believes the swimmers are ready to deliver a memorable competition, with the club targeting a major haul of new Dolphins Fast & Furious records. 

“Last year we had about 10 records broken, but this time we expect all 50 records to be broken,” he said.

Beyond medals, the gala has been designed to reward speed and excellence. The fastest swimmer in each age group will receive medals and rewards, while swimmers who break Dolphins Fast & Furious records will walk away with prizes, alongside gift hampers and other prizes.

Kasujja is also confident of a strong turnout, particularly because the gala comes towards the end of the major swimming calendar, allowing many athletes to compete while in good form. 

“We expect a very big turnout. Many athletes are fit, and they are going to perform really well, so just look forward to the event,” he added.

The excitement is equally high among the Dolphins swimmers, many of whom are targeting personal bests and medals. Babirye Jehan is particularly looking forward to the 50m backstroke and freestyle, intending to cut her times and potentially break some of the existing records.

Rutendo is equally determined to turn weeks of hard training into her personal best performances, with breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly and backstroke featuring prominently among her favourite events.

For Moses, the 50m butterfly and 50m freestyle are among the races to watch. He expects intense competition in the freestyle, where several swimmers have closely matched times, while he is targeting a significant improvement in the 50m butterfly.

“I haven’t swum it in quite a while, so my expectation is to cut at least three seconds on my 50 Fly,” he said.

Jeremiah Magera’s attraction will be the 100m Individual Medley, an event several swimmers are particularly excited about after a long absence from their competition schedules.

Magera is also targeting the event after recently setting personal bests at the Gators Invitational Gala, but wants to see how much more time can be shaved off after another three weeks of training.

For Kasujja Tryan, the Fast & Furious Gala is an opportunity to chase personal bests, medals and a place in the relays, with the 100m IM among her most anticipated events.

With 600 swimmers, 37 clubs, multiple age-group races, record incentives and prizes for the fastest competitors, the Dolphins Fast & Furious Gala 2026 promises to be one of the weekend’s biggest swimming attractions.

As the swimmers put the final touches to their preparations, all eyes will turn to Kampala Parents School, Naguru, where speed, determination and youthful talent will take centre stage.

The countdown is on. The swimmers are ready. Kampala is set for Fast & Furious.

The post Dolphins’ Fast & Furious Gala 2026 set to ignite Kampala Parents School appeared first on Kawowo Sports.

Uganda’s swimming team produced a competitive showing at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing the championships with nine medals: three gold, three silver and three bronze to place second on the overall medal table behind hosts Kenya.

The swimming championships, hosted by Kenya Aquatics at Kasarani Aquatic Stadium, brought together young athletes from across the region, with Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan among the teams represented. Kenya dominated the final standings with 23 medals, including 12 gold, while Uganda’s nine-medal haul underlined the country’s strong presence among the region’s emerging swimming nations.

For Uganda, the campaign was driven by a group of promising young swimmers who consistently challenged for podium positions across freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and relay events.

One of Uganda’s standout performers was Arthur Mwase, who opened his campaign with victory in the men’s 14–17 100m freestyle.

Mwase clocked 57.06 seconds to take gold, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Tevin Waweru, who posted 57.74, and Rwanda’s ShejaKean Murenzi, who finished in 58.31.

He also featured prominently in Uganda’s relay teams. Together with Jonathan Kaweesa, Tyler Muganzi and Rahama Nakasule, Mwase helped Uganda to second place in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, with the team stopping the clock at 4:11.17, behind Kenya’s 4:04.20.

The Ugandan quartet returned to the podium in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, recording 5:03.70 for another silver medal. Mwase anchored the team, following legs by Nakasule, Kaweesa and Muganzi.

Mwase also finished fourth in the men’s 200m freestyle, clocking 2:11.69 after splitting 1:02.78 at the halfway mark.

Tyler Muganzi was another major contributor to Uganda’s medal success.

Muganzi won the women’s 14–17 50m butterfly in 30.62 seconds, narrowly edging Kenya’s Lisa Kamphuis, who finished in 30.70. Uganda’s Rahama Nakasule completed the podium for the Ugandan team in 30.83, giving Uganda both gold and bronze in the event.

Muganzi later added another gold medal in the women’s 100m butterfly, touching in 1:09.60. Kenya’s Nadia Vusha was second in 1:14.85, while another Kenyan competitor was disqualified.

Her performances made her one of Uganda’s most successful swimmers at the championships and highlighted the country’s strength in the butterfly events.

Jonathan Kaweesa also delivered a number of strong performances.

He finished third in the men’s 50m butterfly in 27.40 seconds, behind Kenya’s Jeremy Rieck and Andrew Ogola.

Kaweesa also claimed third place in the men’s 50m freestyle, clocking 26.05 seconds. His time came after a 24.97 seed mark, with Kenya’s Baraka Nyakundi winning in 25.29 and Isaiah Gitonga taking silver in 25.72.

He was also part of both Uganda mixed relay teams that secured silver medals, making him an important component of the team’s overall medal campaign.

Rahama Nakasule contributed strongly to Uganda’s medal tally, featuring in the women’s sprint and relay events.

She took bronze in the 50m butterfly in 30.83 seconds, just behind teammate Muganzi and Kenya’s Kamphuis.

Nakasule also earned silver in the women’s 50m backstroke, recording 35.30 seconds behind Kenya’s Lisa Kamphuis, who won in 33.12.

Her contribution extended to the relay events, where she was part of Uganda’s silver-medal-winning mixed 4x100m freestyle and medley quartets.

The final medal standings placed Uganda comfortably second behind hosts Kenya, with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals for nine medals overall. Rwanda finished third with six medals, all bronze, while Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan each collected one bronze.

The championships provided valuable exposure against swimmers from across Zone V. For Uganda’s young athletes, the experience went beyond the medals: racing in a regional multi-sport Games environment offered an opportunity to test their speed, composure and consistency against some of East Africa’s leading youth swimmers.

The post Uganda’s young swimmers make their mark at ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi appeared first on Kawowo Sports.