Kings Baton relay makes laps in the pool at the nationals

The Glasgow 2026 King’s Baton Relay is making its rounds across the country, recently arriving at the national swimming championship held at Kampala Parents School on Sunday.

This followed the relay's launch on Thursday at the Commonwealth Games Uganda (CGU) offices in Lugogo. 

On Saturday, athletes from Kapchorwa carried the baton, and on Monday, President Museveni received it at State House Nakasero. During Sunday’s event, Uganda’s national para swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe received the baton from CGU’s Beatrice Ayikoru. 

Swimming officials swim with the Kings Baton Relay during the UA nationals championship at Kampala Parents School pool, July 6, 2025. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

After briefly running with it, she swam 25 meters while holding the baton. Representatives from each of the 21 teams participating in the championship then took turns swimming backstroke with the baton held above water in one hand as parents cheered on.

The King's Baton Relay is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently King Charles III. Unlike past relays, this year each of the 74 Commonwealth nations and territories received their own baton, engineered in Glasgow from sustainably sourced Scottish ash, allowing each country to decorate them in their own style. The theme for the King's Baton Relay is “Dedication.”

Uganda’s baton is decorated to reflect culture and creativity and will be used to promote community engagement, celebrate culture, and to raise environmental awareness.

UOC's General Secreatry Beatrice Ayikoru (with kings baton) and Uganda Aquatics president Moses Mwase (right) poses with some of the swimmers during the UA nationals championship at Kampala Parents School pool. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“The relay symbolizes unity and shared ideals of the Commonwealth nations and territories,” Uganda Aquatics president Moses Mwase noted.

Ayikoru said she was happy to see the baton at an Aquatics event one of the key sports of the Commonwealth.

She hailed the swimmers for receiving the baton ahead of the games in Scotland next year and wished them a successful journey to the games.

Swimmers Jamila Lunkuse, Atuhaire Ambala, Kirabo Namutebi, Tendo Mukalazi, Husnah Kukundakwe, and Avice Meya have represented Uganda in previous Commonwealth Games competitions. Uganda has competed in fifteen Commonwealth Games, from 1954.