Over 650 swimmers set to compete in Uganda Aquatics National Championships

Over 650 swimmers will compete for accolades in the tenth edition of the Uganda Aquatics swimming national championships that will be swum over five days at the Kampala Parents Swimming Pool, from July 2-6.

The growing number of swimmers has forced Uganda Aquatics to add an extra day of competition not only to ensure all events are held but also to ensure ample resting time for the swimmers in between the different races.

The youngsters in the different age categories will also be out to impress national team selectors for a chance to be selected to represent Uganda in upcoming regional and international events, including the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Romania, August 19-24.

According to the UA competitions director Eric Kisero a number of national and event records could be broken, especially by some of the national swimmers like Tara Ann Mary Naluwooza, Mary Peyton Suubi, Pendo Kaumi, and Heer Hitesh Usadadiya, who recently represented the country at the Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming and Open Water Swimming Championships in Egypt last month. Action will be spread over different age categories, including in the 10 and under, 11–12 years, 13–14, 15–16, and 17 and over age categories for both boys and girls over the five days. The top three swimmers in each category will receive medals on top of other accolades from the different sponsors, including DStv and Aquafina, among others.

Addressing a news conference launch at the Uganda Aquatics offices in Kamwokya on Thursday, UA president Moses Mwase, who was flanked by the vice president-technical, Tonnie Kasujja, and Eric Kisero, a member of the executive, thanked all the partners for supporting the event that gives Uganda’s youngsters the chance to gauge themselves against each other. He noted that the five-day competition will allow for better management of the event and, hopefully, produce better times from the swimmers.

“The numbers have grown; we also hope the quality of swimming improves, and we hope many of the swimmers can match qualifying times that we have set,” Mwase said.

Some of the swimmers to look out for include Silverfin Academy’s John Trevor Kimuli and Dolphins’ Ian Aziku in the 17 & Over, Dolphins’ Malcolm Nahamya (40 pts) and Jethro Emejeit, Vision for Africa’s Blessing Namugga (in the girls’ 6-8 years’ category), Gliders Swim Club’s duo of Talisha Asianut and Lenora Asianut, and Jaguars’ Marie Zarie Mbanga and Austin Wanyama. The others are Malcolm Nahamya, Jethro Emejeit, Ethani Ssengooba, and Torpedoes’ Kyle Kimuli, among others.

Some of the clubs expected include Altona, Aqua Akii, Baseline, Black Panthers, Dolphins, Gators, Gliders, Hertz, Jaguars, and Makerere Sharks.

The rest are Orcas, Otters, Ozpreys, Sailfish, Seals, Silverfin Academy, Torpedoes, Tumaini Aquatic Academy, Vision for Africa, and Whales Swim Clubs. The Gators are the defending champions.