Uganda’s swimming team produced a competitive showing at the ANOCA Zone V Youth Games in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing the championships with nine medals: three gold, three silver and three bronze to place second on the overall medal table behind hosts Kenya.
The swimming championships, hosted by Kenya Aquatics at Kasarani Aquatic Stadium, brought together young athletes from across the region, with Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan among the teams represented. Kenya dominated the final standings with 23 medals, including 12 gold, while Uganda’s nine-medal haul underlined the country’s strong presence among the region’s emerging swimming nations.
For Uganda, the campaign was driven by a group of promising young swimmers who consistently challenged for podium positions across freestyle, butterfly, backstroke and relay events.
Arthur Mwase
One of Uganda’s standout performers was Arthur Mwase, who opened his campaign with victory in the men’s 14–17 100m freestyle.
Mwase clocked 57.06 seconds to take gold, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Tevin Waweru, who posted 57.74, and Rwanda’s ShejaKean Murenzi, who finished in 58.31.
He also featured prominently in Uganda’s relay teams. Together with Jonathan Kaweesa, Tyler Muganzi and Rahama Nakasule, Mwase helped Uganda to second place in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, with the team stopping the clock at 4:11.17, behind Kenya’s 4:04.20.
The Ugandan quartet returned to the podium in the mixed 4x100m medley relay, recording 5:03.70 for another silver medal. Mwase anchored the team, following legs by Nakasule, Kaweesa and Muganzi.
Mwase also finished fourth in the men’s 200m freestyle, clocking 2:11.69 after splitting 1:02.78 at the halfway mark.
Ezra Kalali (Coach), Jonathan Kaweesa, Arthur Mwase, Tyler Muganzi and Rahama Nakasule
Tyler Muganzi was another major contributor to Uganda’s medal success.
Muganzi won the women’s 14–17 50m butterfly in 30.62 seconds, narrowly edging Kenya’s Lisa Kamphuis, who finished in 30.70. Uganda’s Rahama Nakasule completed the podium for the Ugandan team in 30.83, giving Uganda both gold and bronze in the event.
Muganzi later added another gold medal in the women’s 100m butterfly, touching in 1:09.60. Kenya’s Nadia Vusha was second in 1:14.85, while another Kenyan competitor was disqualified.
Her performances made her one of Uganda’s most successful swimmers at the championships and highlighted the country’s strength in the butterfly events.
Jonathan Kaweesa
Jonathan Kaweesa also delivered a number of strong performances.
He finished third in the men’s 50m butterfly in 27.40 seconds, behind Kenya’s Jeremy Rieck and Andrew Ogola.
Kaweesa also claimed third place in the men’s 50m freestyle, clocking 26.05 seconds. His time came after a 24.97 seed mark, with Kenya’s Baraka Nyakundi winning in 25.29 and Isaiah Gitonga taking silver in 25.72.
He was also part of both Uganda mixed relay teams that secured silver medals, making him an important component of the team’s overall medal campaign.
Rahama Nakasule
Rahama Nakasule contributed strongly to Uganda’s medal tally, featuring in the women’s sprint and relay events.
She took bronze in the 50m butterfly in 30.83 seconds, just behind teammate Muganzi and Kenya’s Kamphuis.
Nakasule also earned silver in the women’s 50m backstroke, recording 35.30 seconds behind Kenya’s Lisa Kamphuis, who won in 33.12.
Her contribution extended to the relay events, where she was part of Uganda’s silver-medal-winning mixed 4x100m freestyle and medley quartets.
Rahama Nakasule (L) on the podium
The final medal standings placed Uganda comfortably second behind hosts Kenya, with three gold, three silver and three bronze medals for nine medals overall. Rwanda finished third with six medals, all bronze, while Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan each collected one bronze.
The championships provided valuable exposure against swimmers from across Zone V. For Uganda’s young athletes, the experience went beyond the medals: racing in a regional multi-sport Games environment offered an opportunity to test their speed, composure and consistency against some of East Africa’s leading youth swimmers.
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