Kyabazinga Championship returns with over 400 athletes

On Sunday, June 15, Wairaka College in Jinja will come alive with energy, speed, and community pride as more than 400 athletes gather for the prestigious Kyabazinga Athletics Championship.

Backed by the Kyabazinga Kingdom and spearheaded by competition director Namayo Mawerere, the event has evolved from a local initiative into a nationally recognized platform for discovering and nurturing grassroots athletic talent.

This year’s edition will feature participants from all 11 districts of the Busoga region—Bugiri, Bugweri, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaliro, Kamuli, Luuka, Mayuge, Namayingo, and Namutumba—each fielding at least one team. In addition, clubs from outside the region are expected to compete, reinforcing the championship’s growing reputation as a national stage for emerging athletes.

While certain events such as the steeplechase, hurdles, 10,000m, and high jump have been excluded due to logistical constraints, the competition remains packed with exciting track and field action. As in previous years, top performers will receive prize money—an important incentive for many young athletes.

According to Mawerere, the championship was founded with a clear mission: to identify and promote athletic talent from the grassroots. That mission has already borne fruit, producing stars like Annet Negesa and Ronald Musagala, who have gone on to represent Uganda internationally.

“The Kyabazinga title is symbolic,” Mawerere explains. “It brings all the districts of Busoga together under one cultural identity. That’s why we partnered with the Kyabazinga Kingdom—to create a sense of unity and pride through sport.”

In an era where elite talent is often discovered too late, regional competitions like the Kyabazinga Championship are vital. They offer young athletes a structured, competitive environment to develop early, gain exposure, and learn from peers across district lines—serving as both a scouting ground and a stepping-stone to national and international success.