National scrabble team vows to end Kenyan dominance

Uganda's national scrabble team has embarked on their journey to Kenya with one clear mission: to dethrone the region's long-standing champions and return home as victors.

The tournament, which doubles as a qualifier for November's World Championship in Ghana, has drawn competitors from Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Rwanda, and South Africa—but all eyes remain fixed on the showdown between Uganda and the host nation.

Acting team captain Richard Geria made Uganda's ambitions clear during the flag-off ceremony at Lugogo.

"Kenya always sees themselves as the giants of regional scrabble, but we've surprised them before at the African Games," he said. "This time, we're bringing a mix of young talent and seasoned players—all with over 1,000 competitive games under their belts—to challenge that notion."

A 25-player contingent, including 10 government-sponsored athletes and 15 self-funded competitors, traveled by road to Nairobi for the event at Trademark Hotel Village Market in Muthaiga. The team was selected through rigorous qualifiers held in December and January, with Geria emphasizing that even the self-sponsored players possess the skill to upset Kenya's 40-strong squad.

The championship features two tiers—main and challenger—with the premier division commencing on Friday, April 18, and the challenger bracket following on Saturday. Matches will conclude on Easter Sunday, after which players will receive both international (WESPO) and continental (Pan African) rankings.

While funding constraints limited Uganda's delegation size, the team remains confident. "With more support, we could have matched Kenya's numbers," Geria admitted. "But quality matters more than quantity—and we're ready to prove it."

As Uganda's wordsmiths prepare for battle, their goal extends beyond regional bragging rights: a strong performance could secure their place on scrabble's global stage in Ghana later this year.