Naiga, Mutesi make history at Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships
The female top two seeds in Ugandan pool proved their ambition to become the world's best female stars by conquering all opponents in their respective categories.
Rashida Mutesi and Rukia Naiga (C) pose a photo with fellow male pool stars Ceaser Chandiga (L) and Joseph Kasozi at Entebbe airport on arrival. Courtesy Photo.
Uganda's pool-playing sisters, Rukia Naiga and Rashida Mutesi, made history by winning gold and silver medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in Ahmedabad, India.
The female top two seeds in Ugandan pool proved their ambition to become the world's best female stars by conquering all opponents in their respective categories.
Naiga clinched the women's Blackball title after defeating South Africa's Prudence Nkosi 5–3 in the final. Meanwhile, Mutesi settled for silver in women's Heyball, narrowly losing 5–4 to England's Kelly Fisher in a tense deciding frame.
Mutesi expressed satisfaction with her silver medal but attributed the final defeat to a lack of Heyball facilities at home, noting it as a major obstacle to her preparation and the growth of the discipline in Uganda.
"I'm excited about the silver medal. Heyball is a new discipline, but we do not have the tables in Uganda. It was hard for me to adjust, but I played my best," Mutesi said.
She urged the Pool Association of Uganda to invest in Heyball tables so that players can practice effectively and compete favourably on the international stage.
Unlike standard pool—which features wide pocket openings that allow balls to drop even if they clip the cushion—Heyball utilises tight, rounded, snooker-style pockets. These pockets reject shots hit at an improper angle, demanding much higher precision.
In the Blackball category, champion Rukia Naiga celebrated her title but called on the government to recognize the achievements of cue sports athletes.
"It feels good to be a world champion," Naiga said. "However, it is demoralizing when other athletes receive government recognition while pool players do not, despite the fact that pool also promotes Uganda internationally."
The biological sisters will have no time to rest. This weekend, they will lead their domestic side, Mukono Pool Club, in the National Super League against Sinkers Pool Club at Adi Sports Bar on Sunday.
Their return coincides with a busy domestic calendar, as the Ladies League is also scheduled to cue off this weekend ahead of the upcoming National Open Pool Championship.