Chess federation targets prisons, refugee camps for wider enrolment

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The Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) has announced plans to grow and popularise the sport by targeting prisons and refugee camps to widen participation.

Allan Benjamin Mande, the deputy president of UCF, said they needed to bring the proposal to the attention of Uganda Prisons and the Office of the Prime Minister, which handles refugee affairs, to ensure the sport is introduced in the two entities.

Since chess is mainly played during evenings and late nights, Mande said the game was ideal for tackling criminality among the youth, whom he said often waste their time while planning and engaging in wrongdoing during such hours.

Abbey Mawerere, the Eastern Uganda Chess Tournament president (L), while flagging off the 2026 Eastern Uganda region chess tournament which drew 326 players at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Jinja city. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

He made the remarks at the opening of the inaugural Eastern Uganda Region Chess Championship at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Jinja city on July 24, 2026.

Mande appealed to politicians to advocate for the game in schools, prisons and refugee camps, which he said have large numbers of people capable of playing during their free time.

“There is a need to advocate chess in the education sector, prisons, refugee camps and within the communities to keep the youth active and energised with mental work,” he said.

He added, “A call to action to their leaders to embrace this game by replacing it in society.”

Abbey Mawerere, the Eastern Uganda Chess Tournament president, said the event had reached an international level after attracting 11 players from outside Uganda.

The three-day event drew 326 participants from Tanzania, South Sudan and the United States of America, while the majority were from Uganda.

Since the game began in the East after being introduced by Father Damian Grimes at Namasagali College in Kamuli district in the early 1970s, Mawerere said they intend to roll it out in all schools across the region to encourage participation.

He said the UCF would provide requirements such as chess boards, clocks and other learning materials, in addition to deploying coaches to conduct training sessions later this year.

“We want schools, prisons and refugees to use their free time by keeping them busy with chess; this will open their minds and reorganise themselves to think in a more organised manner,” he said.

Mawerere also said they would push for its incorporation into the school curriculum by engaging the National Curriculum Development Centre.

“We intend to talk to the NCDC to incorporate chess and be studied as a subject in all schools because it shapes one’s mental understanding,” he said.

Meanwhile, Allan Mbabani, the general secretary of the Eastern Region Uganda Chess Association, said top players including Harold Wanyama, the best in East Africa, and Haruna Nsubuga were among the participants.

He said only Sana Omprakash Kayyar was battling male players from Uganda in the open category for the top cash prize of sh2.5m out of the sh12m prize money on offer.

Harold Wanyama (L), Uganda's best chess player in East Africa, battling with Innocent Baguma, the National champion in Junior category, at the opening of the tournament in Jinja. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)

Mawerere said the first Grand Prix in the Uganda Chess calendar would involve a series of tournaments, with players who accumulate the highest points taking part in the national Super 12.

It is from the Super 12 that the federation would select players to represent the country at the World Chess Olympiad.

He said the tournament would be held annually in Jinja as a way of promoting the sport and boosting the country’s economy through its tourism potential.

“The event brings money to the economy because most players are not from Jinja; this is a big opportunity,” Mawerere noted.