2024: A landmark year for Ugandan badminton

The first Africa Games gold for Uganda by the women’s pair of Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi was the biggest highlight for the sport in 2024.

The All-Africa Championships silver medalists etched their names into the history books after defeating Algerians Halla Bouksani and Tanina Violette Mammeri 2-0 (23-21, 21-14) in Accra, Ghana, in March.

Kobugabe wasn’t done as she also picked up a silver medal in the women’s singles final, having registered impressive victories along the way before falling 2-1 to South Africa’s top seed Johanita Scholtz.

She had earlier eliminated Africa’s number one, Mauritius’ Kune Kate Foo, in a thrilling encounter, securing a remarkable 2-1 victory before seeing off Nigerian Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan 2-0 to secure her place in the final. Her incredible performance throughout the tournament created a lasting impression and won her the respect of both participants and fans.

A Uganda national team also won a gold medal in the first edition of the African AirBadminton Championship held in Mauritius. The Coach William Kabindi-led team included Augustus Owinyi, Muzafaru Lubega, Olivia Nakajja, Malha Musa, Sharifah Mbabazi, and Fred Kadoli. They won their matches against Comoros (60-08), overcame the hosts Mauritius (60-57), South Africa (60-58), and Tunisia (60-47) to win the event, which is designed to create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to play badminton on grass and sand surfaces in parks, gardens, streets, playgrounds, and beaches around the world.

"After winning the gold medal in the African AirBadminton Championship, our focus now is to see that AirBadminton is played in every corner of the country,” UBA CEO Simon Mugabi said.

Meble Namakoye and Olivia Nakajja secured bronze for Team Uganda in the Uganda International Badminton Series held at Lugogo Indoor Stadium in October. Indian Rawat sisters (Gayatri Rawat and Mansa Rawat), who later went on to clinch gold after winning the final over UAE’s Nidhi Desai and Sreeyutha Sreejith Parol, beat the Ugandans in the semis.

It was a busy season for Uganda’s badminton players, who competed in the Kampala International Badminton Series, where Uganda won 8 medals at the BWF World Junior Championships in China, among others.

Augustus Owinyi was one of the biggest winners as the 7th edition of the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge ended at Lugogo on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Victoria University student of Business Administration not only won the men’s singles final, beating Michael Reagan Nsubuga 2-0 (21-13, 21-17), but he also combined with Muzafar Lubega to win the men’s doubles 2-0 (21-17, 21-8) at the expense of Nsubuga and Shilton Tayebwa.

He was also instrumental as he and Lubega were unstoppable in the nations challenge, winning both against Indian and Kenyan nationals in straight sets (21-2, 21-8) and (21-11, 21-8) en route to defending and winning the overall crown, despite little time to rest between all the finals. In the women’s singles, Rubaga Girls Secondary School’s Fadilah Shamika beat her doubles partner Tracy Naluwooza 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 23-21) in an entertaining match that wowed fans.

The second edition of the Uganda Badminton League ended with Ndejje University winning and defending the Super League category, while State House secured the corporate category.

Ndejje was inspired by their star players, including African champion Husina Kobugabe, who partnered with Natasha Rajab to seal a 3-2 doubles victory over Mbogo High’s Tracy Naluwooza and Nazifah Nakiyemba.

Ndejje’s top seed Muzafaru Lubega also bettered Mbogo’s Akbal Oduka 2-0 in the men’s singles. But Mbogo’s duo of Tendo Kibirige and Akbal Oduka stepped up in the men’s doubles, beating Eric Ofoyuru and Reagan Nsubuga 2-1. However, it was Ndejje that defended the championship with a 3-1 result.

The season ended with the inaugural edition of the Badminton Women Technical Officials Workshop held at Sharing Hall Nsambya. The four-day event aimed at getting more women involved in badminton brought together 16 women eager to enhance their skills and make a mark as technical officials in the sport. The workshop also aimed at raising the standards of officiation and overall professionalism in Ugandan badminton.