KBC Blue Pearls win National Bridge League championship
The champions edged fellow Kampala Bridge Club side Hearts by 4.71 points, while defending champions Ndejje Mavericks, who missed the action at the previous outing, finished third with 92.84 Victory Points (VPs).
Kansai Plascon Managing Director Santosh Gumte and his wife Bhakti Modi (center) NCS Assistant General Secretary Milton Chebet (seated 4th-right) and officials of the Uganda Bridge Federation pose with players after the fourth Bridge League ended at Kampala Parents School, October 31, 2026. (Photos by Michael Nsubuga)
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Kampala Bridge Club (KBC) Blue Pearls were crowned champions after amassing 108.79 Victory Points as the fourth Plascon National Bridge League concluded at Kampala Parents School.
The champions edged fellow Kampala Bridge Club side Hearts by 4.71 points, while defending champions Ndejje Mavericks, who missed the action at the previous outing, finished third with 92.84 Victory Points (VPs). The event, held on October 31, 2026, was also supported by the Ruparelia Foundation.
Blue Pearls captain Hitesh Shah attributed his team's victory to teamwork, dedication and a few years of experience.
“Winning this trophy and this National League wouldn't have been possible without my entire team, which comprises Jayesh Mehta, Bhavna Datta, Hiral Vyas, Shallendra Kundra, and Ekta Dattani. I thank all of them for contributing to this victory,” Shah said.
“You’ve got to have the ability to continuously keep improving the game. Those are the main things. And also, it needs a lot of presence of mind, ability and tactical skills.
Kampala Parents School headteacher Daphne Kato (center) hands over the Bridge League-2 championship trophy to Makerere University's captain Martin Ssenfuka alongside his teammates, at Kampala Parents School, October 31, 2026.
“And I must say, for us, the victory was not that easy. I am seeing the brightest and smartest boys and girls from universities in Uganda who have a lot of passion for the game. So, my humble request is that learning bridge is a continuous process, and sometimes it takes even five to 10 years. So, keep learning and advancing your skills; every game is a stepping stone to make you better and better.”
He thanked the Uganda Bridge Federation for its tireless efforts in ensuring the success of the league.
Makerere University Bridge Society collected 162.60 VPs to win the lower-division National Bridge League-2, ahead of Victoria University Embers and Ndejje Iron Lillies, who finished with 157.42 and 137.93 points respectively.
Makerere was represented by Martin Ssenfuka (captain), Anthony Tugume, Bakar Kinene, Derrick Sekamatte, Lyndon Bwambale and Dorecah Baragaire.
“Personally, what I can say helped us win were the stronger pairings, and we also did well. We maximised our wins, and we minimised the losses. We were also consistent in our training,” Ssenfuka noted.
Victoria High School from Entebbe, which fielded Praise Pratty Munezero, Glorious Praise Tendo, Michelle Kuruga, Alexandra Letaru and Sylivia Nabukko, was recognised as the best rookie team in the league, which attracted 19 teams: eight in League-1 and 11 in League-2.
Kansai Plascon managing director Santosh Gumte and his wife, Bhakti Modi, as well as National Council of Sports (NCS) assistant general secretary Milton Chebet and Kampala Parents School headteacher Daphne Kato, crowned the champions in the two divisions.
This year's edition carried special historical significance, marking 57 years since bridge was first played in Uganda by David Thompson in 1969. The Thompson Revolving Trophy, awarded to the NBridgeL I champions, and the Thompson Plate, awarded to the NBridgeL II champions, continue to honour the pioneering contribution of Thompson, who has been instrumental in promoting and developing bridge in Uganda since 1969.
The Uganda Bridge Federation thanked Kansai Plascon Uganda and the Ruparelia Foundation for their continued partnership and support for intellectual sports and youth development through bridge.
“The successful 4th National Bridge League shows how the bridge community in Uganda is getting stronger and more organised. We are proud to celebrate both our competitive achievements and the sport’s rich history in our country,” said Reagan Egulwa, honorary secretary of the Uganda Bridge Federation.
“The Federation is committed to involving more people, supporting talent at clubs and universities, and raising Uganda’s profile in regional and international bridge competitions.”