Gators Swim Club win inaugural Invitational Championships at Kampala Parents

The Gators Swim Club amassed 4,624 points to top the first Gators Invitational Swimming Championships held at the Kampala Parents' Swimming Pool on Sunday.

The two-day championship adds to the Uganda Aquatics calendar by offering swimmers opportunities for development, competition, and self-assessment. Participants can track their progress, compete at various distances, and gain valuable racing experience.

The event featured competition in the 200m freestyle; 50m, 100m, and 200m breaststroke; 50m and 100m backstroke; 50m, 100m, and 200m butterfly; 100m freestyle; and the 200m medley relay and 200m freestyle relay events over the short course.

The Gators opened their medal collection in the 200m freestyle, where Nissi Kahinju’s personal best of 2:20.63 won her gold, ahead of Dolphins’ Mackayla Ssali (2:22.66) and Theresa Kikambi Namirembe (2:34.23), who took the silver and bronze, respectively, in the girls’ 14-15 years category.

Paloma Kirabo then added another gold in the 16-17, coming in at 2:31.53, ahead of Altona’s Sonia Mwere (2:33.23) and Blessing Kaitesi (2:45.42) before Gators’ boys in the same category: Alex Rumanyika (2:09.32), Ethani Ssengooba (2:10.73), and Benjamin Lutaaya (2:15.16) completed a 1, 2, 3 ahead of 7 other opponents.

In the 18&over, Makerere University’s Charity Doreen Nannungi made 3:29.93 ahead of Aqua Akii’s Joy Kamukama (3:39.57) before Dolphins’ Pendo Kaumi (2:05.79), Sailfish’s Mathew Mwase (2:12.79), and Dolphins’ Kean Kyle Kiwagama (2:13.27) made the podium in the same category.

In the 100m butterfly, in the 10-11 category, Blue Whales Aquatic Venture’s Aya Ofleh Adams was unstoppable, touching home in 1:23.64, ahead of Gators’ Pretty Jemaimah Mulondo (1:28.05) and Alicia Charlyn Rutaroh (1:32.20). In the boys’ category Ashley Kimuli (1:19.17) took the gold ahead of Imara Aquatics’ Raan Batuk (1:20.62) and Dolphins’ Thomas Miiro Mpuuja (1:21.40), while Aquatic Academy’s Rahmah Kalungi (1:21.19), who is headed for the FEASSA Games, beat Gators’ Sasha Vimbai (1:35.63). 

Fresh from the Commonwealth Games, para swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe also dived in and made 1:27.22 ahead of Makerere University’s Charity Doreen Nannungi (1:50.05), just like Thembo Katende (1:01.01), who beat Mathew Mwase and Dolphins’ Malcolm Nahamya (1:04.61) in the 18&over category. Imara Aquatics’ Larry Greig Feni led the 50m breaststroke in 29.35, ahead of Dolphins’ Pendo Kaumi (31.68) and Gators’ Katende Thembo (32.50), as Gators’ Swagiah Mubiru beat Kukundakwe (38.86) and Charity Nannungi (44.97). Nakasule also topped the 16-17, at 38.20, ahead of Gators’ Paloma Kirabo (42.90) and Sasha Vimbai (42.96). 

Gators' Condoleeza Nakazibwe in action in the 50m freestyle during the Gators Invitational at Kampala Parents School pool. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the 100m backstroke, Aya led the 10-11, picking up gold in 1:20.30 ahead of the Gators' Kamara Sozo (1:24.87) and the Sailfish's Denorah Natabi (1:26.25). The boys’ competition featured Raan Batuk (1:18.25), who finished ahead of Ashley Kimuli (1:20.40) and Khalil Sissoko (1:22.96).

The stars for the 12-13 class were Gabriela Eleanor Nakimuli (1:15.43), who beat Jinan Nakato (1:16.56) and Jehan Babirye (1:19.22), as Torpedoes’ Elijah Ayesiga (1:11.72) beat Imara’s Sebastian Luke Ssimbwa (1:13.62) and Altona’s Francis Kisawuzi (1:17.58).

The top swimmers in the girls' 14-15 category were Nissi Kahinju, Theresa Namirembe, and Crystal Ssemanda, while Jayson Ampaire Aronda, Jeremiah Magera, and Robin Vandenhoeke topped the boys’ category.

In the girls’ 16-17, Kirabo Paloma, Blessing Kaitesi, and Sonia Mwere were featured prominently, just like the Gators’ trio of Shaun Murungi, Ethani Ssengooba, and Alex Rumanyika, who also made the podium.

Combined Team Scores

Gators Swim Club Kampala 4,624pts

Dolphins Swim Club Kampala 3,134. 50

Aqua Akii Swim Club 1,417. 50

Imara Aquatics Sports Club 1,353. 50

Sailfish Swim Club Kampala 814

Aquatic Academy Kampala 564

Individuals 396

Blue Whales Aquatic Venture 365. 50

Torpedoes Swim Club 314

Starlings Swim Club 231

Altona 231

Orcas Swimming Club 194

Ubuntu Aquatics 183

Makerere University 122