Uganda takes the Plunge: Open Water Swimming makes its National Championship debut

There is something quite different about swimming in a pool and taking on a stretch of open water. In the pool, you have lane ropes, familiar walls and a black line guiding you along the bottom. In open water, you have a much bigger playground, no lane ropes to keep you in place and a whole new set of challenges to figure out.

That was the experience awaiting Uganda’s swimmers on Saturday, 10 October 2026, when the country held its first National Open Water Championships at the Entebbe Sailing Club at Lake Victoria.

For a swimming community more accustomed to the familiar surroundings of swimming pools, the championship was an opportunity to take the sport beyond the lanes and into one of Uganda’s greatest natural resources. It was also a chance to discover what happens when swimmers must combine their usual speed and technique with navigation, endurance and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

Organised under Uganda Aquatics, the inaugural championship brought together age-group swimmers and masters, with races ranging from 1.5 kilometres to 5 kilometres. From the results, you see the different levels of experience and endurance required, while giving swimmers from various clubs and institutions an opportunity to test themselves in a new competitive environment.

For Uganda, the first national championship was an important step towards developing the open water discipline alongside the more familiar pool events.

Uganda Aquatics events director Eric Kisero described the inaugural event as a good experience for the athletes, noting that the federation had drawn on its understanding of international open water events to organise the competition.

He explained that the priorities were straightforward: athlete safety, health and results. According to Kisero, the organisers were able to meet these priorities, with support from Uganda Police, the Marine Police and lifeguards helping to provide safety cover on the water.

The organisers also worked with national laboratories on health-related checks, while officials received short training sessions to prepare them for their responsibilities.

For a first edition, getting these fundamentals right was essential. Open water swimming may look like an opportunity to enjoy a long swim in the lake, but a national competition requires careful planning, trained personnel and reliable safety arrangements.

The age-group races provided some of the most exciting moments of the championship, with boys and girls aged 15 and under taking on the 3km distance.

Daniela Munguci emerged as the girls’ winner, clocking 38 minutes and 6.50 seconds. Jaguar’s Shivon Naginda followed in second place in 38:19.51, while Altona’s Paula Nabukeera completed the podium in 39:09.85; Abigail Mwagale, also of Altona, finished fourth in 39:25.23. Gators’ Hailey Nambuya, Paulette Wakabi of Altona and Alicia Charlyn Rutaroh of Gators completed the listed finishers.

In the boys’ 3km race, Gators’ Aiden Immelman Akubu took the honours in 36:45.98. Altona’s William Sanford finished second in 37:47.60, with Gators’ Jayson Ampaire Aronda third in 38:32.02.

Enoch Mwenda, also representing the Gators, was fourth in 38:32.91, just behind his teammate, while Altona’s Francis Kisawuzi and Raymon Ssali completed the results.

For these young swimmers, the experience offered something beyond a medal. It introduced them to a discipline in which pacing, navigation and staying composed over distance can matter just as much as raw speed.

The challenge stepped up for the swimmers aged 16 and over, who competed over 5km.

In the girls’ event, Altona’s Sonia Mwere claimed first place in 1 hour, 49 minutes and 55.76 seconds. Her teammate Blessing Kaitesi finished second in 1:58:09.32, while America’s Busingye of Makerere took third place in 2:12:34.64.

The boys’ 5km race produced a particularly close contest at the front. Sailfish’s Arthur Mwase won in 1:07:42.76, finishing ahead of Gators’ Benjamin Lutaaya, who clocked 1:08:11.08. Michael Mukiibi of Aquatic Academy was third in 1:09:42.01.

Lutaaya finished just under 29 seconds behind Mwase, making it a competitive battle over the longer distance.

Makerere University swimmers Jason Lukyamuzi and Brian Magoba finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in 1:10:08.77 and 1:10:31.87. Their teammates, Jovans Kalule and Jovin Benedict Wandera of Gators, completed the listed finishers.

A 5km open water race calls for careful energy management. Going too hard too early can leave a swimmer struggling later, while settling into a sustainable rhythm can make the difference over the final stretch. Competitors must also keep track of the course while maintaining enough awareness to respond to other swimmers and the conditions around them.

The results at Entebbe offered a first national benchmark for Uganda’s swimmers in this discipline, giving clubs and athletes something concrete to build on as open water competition develops.

If the age-group events were about young swimmers discovering a new challenge, the masters competition offered a reminder that the love of swimming does not end with youth.

The masters races were held over 1.5km, with competitors divided into age categories. Swimmers represented Uganda Police, Formidables Swim Club, Kampala Quality Marlins, Uganda Civil Aviation Authority, Gators, Malta, Aquatic Academy, Sailfish and Special Olympics.

In the women’s under-24 special group, Uganda Police dominated the leading positions. Lydia Nansubuga won in 47:44.49, followed by Doris Yikiru in 47:50.44 and Linda Etapin 48:24.11. Scovia Akanyo finished fourth.

The men’s under-24 special group was equally notable for Uganda Police, with Denis Ojok taking first place in 38:24.74. Clinton Tukwasiibwe finished second in 38:41.05, while Peter Opio was third in 40:38.30. Dalton Opio, Kepha Mpirirwe, Martin Tumukunde, Pirwoth Derrick, Cosmos Munguleni, Pius Ogenrwot and George Ogwang also featured in the results.

Gabriel Baruga Nyangabyaki of Gators won the men’s 25–29 category in 26:53.39, ahead of Kampala Quality’s Joseph Muhereza. In the 30–34 category, Aquatic Academy’s Amos Bakka finished first in 34:09.43, with Formidables’ Mubarak Ssemanda and Sharp Cohen taking second and third.

Brian Kamugisha led the men’s 35–39 category for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority in 36:58.35. Umar Matovu of Kampala Quality won the 40–49 category in 40:49.67, while Wesly Songok of Formidables topped the 50–59 group in 42:24.57.

The oldest listed men’s category, 60 and over, was won by Formidables’ Peter Ssebanakitta in 44:44.17.

On the women’s side, Natasha Nagadya of Malta won the 25–34 category in 35:21.66, Linda Namayanja of Formidables topped the 35–44 category in 48:45.43, and Jeroline Akubu of Gators won the 45-and-over category in 46:34.30.

These performances added an important dimension to the inaugural event. Open water swimming is not only about identifying the fastest young athlete or producing the next elite competitor. It can also provide a space for adults to remain active, challenge themselves and compete within their age groups.

For event director Kisero, the inaugural championship delivered what the organisers had hoped for, with no major unexpected incidents reported in his assessment of the event.

He also highlighted the response from spectators and people around the venue, saying the public appeared to enjoy the competition.

That response matters. Open water swimming can be an attractive sport to watch because spectators get to see athletes competing in a natural setting, with the course and the surrounding environment becoming part of the experience. It also offers an opportunity to introduce more people to swimming beyond the pool.

But the first edition was not without its lessons. Kisero pointed to an early disruption during the first race, when swimmers entered the water and were affected by a course-related issue. The organisers worked to address the problem and make adjustments so that the athletes could stay on course.

Such experiences can be useful for a new national competition. The first edition establishes a foundation, while the lessons learned can help organisers refine course layout, athlete guidance and race management for future events.

The broader challenge, however, is financial. According to Kisero, open water swimming is considerably more expensive to organise than some other aquatic disciplines. Boats are required to support the event, and even when boats are provided at no cost, fuel must still be paid for. Lifeguards and officers on the boats also need to be available throughout the competition.

The involvement of Uganda Police and the Marine Police was therefore important, but sustaining the discipline will require more than goodwill and the successful staging of a single championship.

Sponsorship, partnerships and public support will be central to keeping the programme active.

Kisero appealed to potential sponsors and partners to support the federation’s efforts, noting that a strong open water programme could help raise Uganda’s profile in aquatics internationally.

His point is a practical one: a successful inaugural event is a promising start, but a sustainable national programme requires the resources to train athletes, prepare officials, provide safety cover and organise competitions regularly.

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