Inhensiko, Mwase lead Uganda’s Swimming charge at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Two of Uganda’s brightest young swimming talents, Peterson Inhensiko and Arthur Mwase, are heading to Dakar with an opportunity to test themselves against the world’s best young swimmers at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where they will represent the country in seven individual freestyle, backstroke and butterfly races.

The 17-year-olds have earned their places on Team Uganda through different journeys, with Inhensiko bringing his versatility across four events and Mwase arriving on the back of a promising season highlighted by 100m freestyle gold at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi.

Their next challenge is Senegal, where the swimming programme runs from November 1 to 8, as Dakar hosts the first-ever Olympic sports event on African soil.

Inhensiko** brings versatility to Dakar**

For Peterson Inhensiko, Dakar presents an opportunity to showcase the versatility he has developed through years of competing across different swimming strokes.

The Gators Swim Club swimmer, who also trains with Bishop’s Stortford Swim Club in the United Kingdom while attending Bishop’s Stortford College, will compete in four individual events: the boys’ 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly.

His selection is a reward for the experience he has accumulated on the continental stage, having represented Uganda at the 16th and 17th Africa Swimming Championships in Egypt and Algeria respectively, alongside appearances at various editions of the Africa Aquatics Zone III and Zone IV Championships.

Inhensiko also holds national age-group records from his junior years, adding to the experience he takes into the competition.

His personal bests in the long-course, 50-metre pool stand at 25.72 seconds in the 50m freestyle, 58.12 seconds in the 100m freestyle, 28.70 seconds in the 50m backstroke and 27.74 seconds in the 50m butterfly.

“It feels amazing to be selected to represent Uganda at the Youth Olympic Games,” Inhensiko said. “It is something I have worked towards for a long time, so I am really proud to have the opportunity to represent my country on such a big stage.”

He is particularly looking forward to the challenge of racing against some of the world’s best young swimmers, describing it as a different level of competition and an opportunity to discover what he can achieve.

Beyond Dakar, his ambitions remain firmly focused on improving his times, representing Uganda at bigger international competitions and seeing how far he can take his swimming career.

Mwase ready to build on a golden season

While Inhensiko will spread his efforts across freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, Arthur Mwase will concentrate on the freestyle events, where he has already shown encouraging signs of progress.

The Sailfish Swim Club swimmer will compete in the boys’ 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle, taking three opportunities to test his endurance, speed and race management against international opposition.

His qualification comes after a year of consistent performances, with his standout moment arriving at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi, where he won gold in the 100m freestyle in 57.06 seconds.

Mwase’s personal best in the event is 56.3 seconds, while he has recorded 2:07.9 in the 200m freestyle and 4:33.7 in the 400m freestyle.

Those performances offer a foundation on which he will hope to build as he prepares for the Youth Olympic Games.

“I have been working towards this for the entire year and was able to qualify by strong performances throughout the year,” Mwase said.

Dakar will also not be his first taste of international competition in Uganda’s colours. Last year, he represented the country at the Africa Aquatics Junior and Senior Open Water Swimming Championships in Mombasa, Kenya, gaining experience in a discipline that demands considerable endurance and determination.

“I am very excited to compete and happy that my hard work paid off,” he said, adding that the opportunity to compete at a very high-level meet was what excited him most.

His ambitions stretch well beyond Senegal. Mwase hopes to qualify for bigger competitions, including the World Championships, while inspiring the next generation of swimmers to pursue their own dreams.

Swimming is also something of a family affair for him. He trains and competes alongside his brothers, Mathew and Jaden, at Sailfish Swim Club, with the three sharing interests in music and chess away from the pool.

The significance of Dakar 2026 extends beyond the individual ambitions of the two swimmers.

Running from October 31 to November 13, the Youth Olympic Games will be the first Olympic sports event hosted on the African continent, marking a major moment for the continent’s sporting landscape.

Under the motto “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates”, the Games are expected to bring together approximately 2,700 athletes under the age of 17 from more than 200 delegations.

Competitions and activities will be spread across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, with swimming scheduled at the Tour de l’Oeuf, also known as the Egg Tower Complex, in Dakar.

For Uganda, the swimming team forms part of a 25-athlete delegation comprising seven women and 18 men, competing across seven sporting disciplines.

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