Eight junior swimmers out for the Africa Juniors Championship

Making personal bests is on top of the agenda for the eight national junior swimmers as they head out for the 16th Africa Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships 2025 at the Cairo Stadium Swimming Pool Complex in Egypt, April 30-May 3.

Uganda is represented by a team of four boys and four girls that includes Pendo Kaumi (captain), Ian Aziku, Heer Usadadiya, and Peterson Inhensiko, while the girls’ team is composed of Mary Peyton Suubi, Rahmah Nakasule, Charlotte Sanford, and Tara Kisawuzi, all under the watch of coach Latif Kajjumbi.

The team was flagged off to the event by the state sports minister, Peter Ogwang, from the AFCON secretariat on Friday. Ogwang noted that there was a need to set up more swimming pools across the country to ensure the sport continues to thrive. To that end he said the government is putting up several pools targeting the development

“Have the belief that you can do it, work hard, and believe in God,” Ogwang advised.

He asked them to draw inspiration from the current IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, who is African but now heads the International Olympic Committee.

“Have self-belief and determination to excel because you have been chosen from among many. Let the passion for the sport drive you to success because the parents and coaches have done their part; now it is about you,” Ogwang stated.

He said the government is going to continue investing in the swimmers' training abroad and in international events and in swimming infrastructure to ensure they excel.

IOC member William Blick, who also attended the function, offered words of wisdom, imploring the team to raise our flag extremely high by each one of them performing to their best because representing the country is one of the greatest honours one can have.

Team captain Pendo Kaumi said the team was mentally and physically prepared to do their best. “I believe that we are going to do our best to represent our country. We are physically and mentally prepared as a team, and we have done team building, and we are ready to represent Uganda,” Kaumi said.

The team coach, Kajjumbi, also holds his charges in high regard, stating, "We have a well-balanced team; we have short- and long-distance swimmers." It is the first time that we have this team spread out, and I have high expectations for them; they are a really tough team that will even perform well in the Africa Seniors because we are spread out. Much as they are youngsters, some are national record holders, and we anticipate a lot from them, and I am confident we will win," Kajjumbi said.

Kajjumbi had a short dilemma in choosing who does what event but eventually says, ‘I put the team together where we do the best time’.

Uganda Aquatics president Moses Mwase said the team has emerged from the talent identification structures, which they are going to continue investing in so that they can represent the country at the senior level.

“It takes about 10-15 years to groom a swimmer; they have to be in the water for a long time. Our biggest challenge is that when the girls reach about 15-16, they start dropping out, but we will try to ensure they swim longer in support with the parents.

“Cairo is part of the pathway that will ensure that they continue to develop their careers and represent Uganda very well,”

“We hope some of these swimmers can aspire to compete in some of the upcoming events like the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, the ANOCA School Games in Morocco, and the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia,” Mwase stated before he thanked the government for the support, part of which has kept them in camp for three weeks ahead of the African event.