Nsereko, Kisawuzi lead Uganda's medal charge at Zone 3 Swimming Championship

Most of the Ugandan swimmers made progress by beating their personal best times in the different categories as the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Swimming Championship got underway at Kampala International School Uganda (KISU) in Bukoto on the morning of Wednesday, October 21.

Uganda's boys' captain in the 17-and-over category, Nathan Nsereko, began by winning a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke, maintaining his personal best time of 29.74 seconds, while his counterpart, Feni Larry, took gold after clocking 29.56, going below his personal best of 29.74 seconds.

Ugandan Tara Kisawuzi also took gold in the girls' category of the same age group when she clocked 37.10, shedding 11 microseconds off her personal best, while Burundian Leilla Maniriho took silver after clocking 40.96, a new personal best.

In the boys' 50m breaststroke, Payton Ssekitto walked away with silver after clocking 32.15, behind Kenyan Bakara Kyankundi, who made 30.01 to win the gold medal.

The girls' 50m breaststroke was more entertaining and tense, as Uganda's Zari Mbaga beat Kenya's Maina Kamwelle by only 8 microseconds when they clocked 36.24 and 36.32 seconds, respectively.

The other day-one gold winners for Team Uganda were Gabriella Asima in the 50m breaststroke, who clocked 31.55 in the girls' 13–14 years category, together with Ibrahim Lule in the boys' category and Mushira Nabatanzi in the girls' category, who clocked 34.60 and 36.73 seconds, respectively.

The individual medley, however, was a struggle for the Ugandan swimmers in the opening session, when Nisha Najjuma finished with a bronze in the 400m under-14 category, clocking 5:54.76 minutes in an event won by Tanzanian Viljoen Nicolene in 5:15.52 minutes.

In the boys' event, Kenyan Muses Harith took the accolade after registering 5:08.42, while Uganda's Elijah Ayesiga took silver in 5:24.61.

In the masters' women's under-30 50m breaststroke, Resty Kiwuka took gold after clocking 44.65, slashing 35 microseconds off her personal best.

In the 35–39 years women's category, Burundian master swimmer Burundie Ndiaye proved unbeatable, clocking 49.55 seconds, followed by Ugandan Linda Namayanja, who dramatically clocked 57.32 from her personal best of 1:02.03.

The 11th edition of the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Championship got underway with swimmers from 8 countries taking part at the KISU 8-lane 25m swimming pool.

The countries included Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti, and Uganda, which fielded two teams for the championship.

The championship will climax on Sunday with the open water swimming event at Entebbe Sailing Club.