Kiggundu urges discipline at CAVB Zone V Beach Volleyball Championship

Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) first vice president Ahmed Abdallah Kiggundu has urged players at the 2026 CAVB Zone V Beach Volleyball Championship to value discipline and honour as much as winning.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Entebbe Tour at Bunjako Beach on Thursday, Kiggundu welcomed the participating countries and thanked the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone V for trusting Uganda to host the regional competition.

“Our athletes’ sport is not about winning only, it is also about discipline and honour,” Kiggundu said.

He described the championship as an important zonal event and called for continued support to enable Uganda to host more competitions.

“It is an honour to see that we are again here for an important zonal tournament. Most importantly, we thank all the countries that are here,” he said.

“I want to thank CAVB for the opportunity. We used to hear about beach volleyball, but now we are here. I also want to thank CAVB Zone V for trusting Uganda to host this event,” he added.

Uganda made a mixed start on Thursday, with Claire Najjuuko and Purity Nalua Nekesa beating Burundi’s Nadia Buntubwimana and Delly Drice Kaze 22-20, 21-18 in the women’s competition.

However, John Baptist Ogire and Isaac Ogusul lost 15-21, 18-21 to South Sudan’s Abraham Chol Majok and Ayuen Mach Mayen in the men’s category.

The competition continues until Sunday, featuring nine men’s pairs and eight women’s pairs from Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan. South Sudan is making its debut, while Somalia missed the event due to logistical challenges.

“South Sudan is making its debut in this championship. We were waiting and expecting Somalia, but unfortunately, they failed to make it due to logistical issues,” said Moses Opio, chairman of the Local Organising Committee.

“We have set up a vibrant Local Organising Committee. We previously hosted a successful Africa Nations Championship qualifier and we are banking on that experience to deliver a top-notch event,” he said.

The men’s competition has three pools. Pool A features Burundi 2, Uganda 1 and Kenya 1; Pool B has Uganda 2, South Sudan 1 and Kenya 2; while Pool C comprises Kenya 3, Kenya 4 and Burundi 1.

In the women’s category, Pool A includes South Sudan 1, Kenya 2, Burundi 2 and Uganda 1, while Pool B has Burundi 1, Kenya 3, Kenya 1 and Uganda 2.

Uganda hopes to improve on last year’s performance in Burundi, where the women won bronze and the men reached the quarter-finals. The country is represented by women’s pairs Najjuuko and Nekesa, and Margaret Namyalo and Eunice Amuron. The men’s pairs are Ogire and Ogusul, and Aziizi Busingye and Luc Florent Kimararungu.

On Friday, Uganda continued to record mixed results at the championship. In the men’s competition, Aziizi Busingye and Luc Florent Kimararungu, representing Uganda 1, lost 10-21, 21-18, 6-15 to Kenya 1. Uganda 2, represented by Margaret Namyalo and Eunice Amuron, also lost 9-21, 17-21 to Kenya 2.

In the women’s competition, Claire Najjuuko and Purity Nalua Nekesa beat South Sudan 21-18, 21-15 to register a 2-0 victory. The pair later faced Kenya, losing the first set before fighting back to win the second and force a decider, which they also won to complete a comeback victory.

Namyalo and Amuron also impressed, beating Burundi 21-9, 21-10.

The men’s and women’s quarter-finals are scheduled for Saturday, with the men’s semi-finals, third-place play-off and final set for Sunday.

The Entebbe Tour is the second stop on the four-leg CAVB Zone V Beach Tour, following the opening event in Bujumbura, where Burundi won gold, Kenya took silver and Uganda finished third. The tour will proceed to Mombasa before concluding in Dar es Salaam.

2026 CAVB Zone V Beach Volleyball Championship

Thursday results

Men

Uganda (2) 0 South Sudan 2

Women

Uganda (1) 2 Burundi (2) 0

Friday results

Men

Uganda (1) 1 Kenya (1) 2

Uganda (2) 0 Kenya (2) 2

Women

Uganda (2) 2 Burundi 0

Uganda (1) 2 South Sudan 0

Uganda (1) 2 Kenya 1