Fourteen Nations converge in Lugogo as the 2026 Uganda International Series serves off

Lugogo Indoor Arena has transformed once again into a high-stakes continental and international badminton battleground, as fourteen nations converge on the Ugandan capital, sending 115 elite athletes for the Uganda International Series 2026, running from October 1 to 4.

The premier event comes hot on the heels of the recently concluded Kampala International Future Series, keeping local and visiting players locked in intense competition as they chase crucial ranking points for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

As the host nation, Uganda fields the largest contingent of the tournament with 67 players, eager to capitalise on home turf. Meanwhile, a diverse and formidable international field has arrived, featuring representation from Algeria, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Iran, South Africa, Bangladesh, Luxembourg, Germany, Myanmar, Kenya, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Among the visiting delegations, the Badminton Association of India commands the largest foreign presence with 16 players. They are followed by the Badminton Association of Malaysia with eight athletes and the Algerian Badminton Association with six.

The Badminton Federation of Nigeria contributes four players, while the Badminton Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Bangladesh Badminton Federation, Federation Luxembourgeoise de Badminton, and Myanmar Badminton Federation have each dispatched two competitors.

Adding further flavour to the four-day showcase are representatives from Badminton South Africa, the German Badminton Association, the National Olympic Committee Kenya, the Nepal Badminton Association, and the Sri Lanka Badminton Association, rounding out the total field of 115 athletes.

For the host nation, the tournament serves as a prime opportunity to build upon its impressive outing at the 2025 Uganda International Badminton Series, which was also staged at the Lugogo venue.

Last year, the Ugandan squad collected six medals, highlighted by a hard-fought silver in the women’s doubles, where Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza carried Uganda’s strongest challenge to the final before falling 2-0 to Switzerland’s Jenjira Stadelmann and Leila Zarrouk.

Uganda also secured valuable bronze medals through Husna Kobugabe, Muzafaru Lubega, Meble Namakoye, and Shamsa Mbira across their respective doubles categories.

With another world-class field now descending on Lugogo, Uganda’s 67-player contingent faces mounting pressure to convert home advantage into another substantial medal haul.

Beyond domestic pride, however, the stakes are global. For all 115 athletes stepping onto the court this week, every match represents a critical stepping stone on the relentless road to Los Angeles 2028.

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