Kisawuzi shines for Uganda as CANA Zone 3 ends in Tanzania

Ugandan swimmers recorded a number of personal bests as the 7^TH edition of the CANA Zone 3 Swimming Championship ended in Tanzania on Sunday.

Uganda’s 14-year-old female swimmer Tara Kisawuzi was the star for the Ugandans, winning 8 gold medals not only to win her category (13-14 years) but also help Uganda in finishing third overall after they not amassed 2,521.50 points 

Kisawuzi opened her account with gold in the 50m breaststroke race where she clocked 36.80 in beating Zambia’s Miti Tamenji and Thuranira Natasha who made 37.63 and 38.27 respectively.

Kisawuzi (centre) poses with some of the swimmers she beat to gold in Tanzania. Courtesy Photo

She added another gold in the 100m butterfly race in a personal best time of 1:07.63; again, beating Tamenji (1:11.33) and Tanzania’s Filbertha Demello (1:13.00) to the gold.

She extended her dominance when she registered 2:22.10 in beating Audrey Langat and Demello in the 200m freestyle to win yet another gold before she also took the 50m butterfly gold with another personal best of 28.89.

She also grabbed the 200m Individual Medley and 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle races to cap a perfect outing for the Altona Swim Club member on foreign soil.

Other gold medalists included Zara Mbaga 11, in the 12 and under; who clocked 2:55.69 to win the 200m breaststroke and 1:20.92 in the 100m breaststroke races; John Kafumbe and Charlotte Sanford from the 200m freestyle and the 50 and 200m breaststroke races respectively.

Team Uganda in Tanzania. Courtesy Photo

Heer Usadadiya, Nathan Nsereko, Natalie Lutalo, Kafumbe, Paloma Kirabo, and Tyaba Kiggundu picked silver medals over several races just like Nathan Nsereko, Peyton Suubi, Ben Kaganda, Pendo Kaumi, Natalie Lutalo, Ampaire Namanya, Steve Magera, Jaden Mwase, and Paulsen Ssetumba who bagged bronze.

Uganda Masters swimmers Donald Rukare, Henry Kakooza, Alex Kateeba, Ezra Kalali, Nana Nakiddu also produced golden performances in different races just like Peter Buvumbo, and Olivier Nalwadda who managed bronze over several races.

In July after winning her category in the USF National Age-Group Swim Championships at Greenhill Academy pool, Kisawuzi who pocketed 5 gold medals then, said her target was to keep the momentum going and win the category again before she moves to another age category.

“I have to keep pushing on, work more in the pool. Hopefully next year I can repeat the same performance. I want to make it twice in a row so that when I leave the 13-14 age category, I go with a record of having won it twice,” Kisawuzi stated.

Combined team scores

Team Tanzania - Tanzanites 3,061

Kenya (Suspended) 2,768

Uganda 2,521. 50

Zambia Team 1,878

Republic of South Africa 1,385. 50

Burundi 653

Sudan 213

Djibouti 87

Rwanda 67

Ethiopia 47

Individual scores

12 & Under

Miti Sibongile (Zambia) 36

Dillip Crissa (Tanzania) 31

Mbanga Zara (Uganda) 20

13-14 Women

Kisawuzi Tara 14 (Uganda) 42ts

Demello Filbertha 13 (Tanzania) 21

Miti Tamenji (Zambia) 17

15-16 Women

Phiri Jade (Zambia) 28pts

Islam Ali Lubaina (Kenya) 26

Charlotte Sanford (Uganda) 21