Uganda wins the CANA Zone 3 Swimming Championship in Rwanda

Uganda's swimming team amassed 3206 points over three days of action at the Gahanga Swimming pool in Rwanda, to win the 8th Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Swimming Championship.

The Ugandan girls and boys collected 1,427 and 1,725 points respectively to beat last year’s champions Tanzania to the championship by 453 points.

Despite collecting fewer points than the boys, Uganda’s charge was led by the girls who had Marie Zara Mbanga and Swagia Mubiru picking ten and nine individual gold medals from the various events.

Tendo Kaumi and Pendo Kaumi pose with their medals in Rwanda. Courtesy photo

Swimming in the girls’ 12 and under category Mbanga picked his first gold in the opening race of the event after she clocked 2:50.91 in the 200m backstroke event where another Ugandan Crystal Ssemanda finished second in 2:59.54 with Tanzanian Zainab Moosajee making 3:03.30.

She also took gold from the 50m breast and backstroke races as well as from the 200m freestyle race among other races.

On her part Mubiru, 18, won the 200m backstroke in 2:50.70, 50m breaststroke (36.94), and the 200m breaststroke in 3:14.10 among other races.

“I’m very happy for the effort we all exhibited including the masters’ swimmers and I would like to thank the coaches and the parents for what they have done and the athletes for having put in the work,” Mubiru stated.

Tara Kisawuzi with seven gold and three silver, Mary Peyton Suubi with three gold and three silver as well and Karla Mugisha with one gold and five silver were the other standouts among the girls on top of other relay events where they also won medals.

Heer Usadadiya was one of the top male swimmers in Rwanda. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Heer Usadadiya in the 14&Under was the best male swimmer in his category and on the Ugandan boys’ team having collected 5 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze and three other team gold medals from the relays that the Ugandan boys won.

Usadadiya clocked 2:19.02 (200m backstroke), 9:29.35(800m free), 1:04.18 (100backstroke), 2:06.78 (200 freestyle) and 4:39.09 in the 400m freestyle races.

“Usadadiya we put in a lot of effort and I’m happy that we emerged victorious this time around, having finished third last year, so it was good redemption for our team,” Usadadiya stated.

Tendo Kaumi with 4 gold and 3 silver as well as Isaiah Kuc with 3 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze also starred for Uganda in the event that attracted ten countries.

Uganda’s Master swimmers led by Donald Rukare also won their category with Alex Kateeba, David Wolimbwa, Peter Ssebanakitta, Dunstan Rukare, Catherine Nakimuli, Conrad Bukonyezi, and Henry Kakooza also winning individual gold medals over the different races.

Part of the team landed at Entebbe Airport on Sunday with USF President Moses Mwase and Secretary Max Kanyerezi on Sunday night with the rest of the team traveling by bus.

“We are very excited, swimming is growing, the prospects look very good and we are looking forward to competing in the Africa Aquatics Junior Championships in Mauritius a few weeks from now,” USF president Moses Mwase said.

“We are excited for emerging overall winners. It was a tough competition but the swimmers fought very hard and were resilient and worked hard to win,” Coach Olivia Nalwadda added.

Masters swimmer Ssebakitta, 67, who has represented the country on three occasions now said he was happy to compete alongside the youngsters in a winning performance. He won four gold medals from the 50m breast, 50m free, and from the 100m breast and freestyle races and hit the qualification mark for the World Championships in Doha in February next year.

“Swimming is a way of life and we are a good example to show that one can continue swimming even in old age,” he noted.

Uganda was represented by 49 swimmers.

Combined Team Scores

Uganda 3,206pts

Tanzanites 2,753

Kenya 1,843. 50 4

Rwanda 1,348

Burundi 1,291

South Africa 622

Eswatini 162

Eritrea 109

Djibouti 95. 50

Ethiopia 61