Over 600 swimmers set for fourth Hertz Invitational Gala at Kampala Parents School

Over 600 swimmers from 30 clubs are expected to compete for honours during the fourth Hertz Invitational Swimming Gala, set for August 1-2 at the Kampala Parents School pool.

The competition, featuring age categories of 6 and under, 7–8, 9–10, 11–12, and 13–14 years, is designed to provide young and junior swimmers with a competitive platform, valuable experience, and recognition.

Hertz Swim Club chairman Aksam Magoola revealed at a press conference on Thursday that the inaugural gala was held back in 2003 and the event has grown significantly since then. He anticipates an even bigger turnout this year, surpassing last year's numbers, with over 700 swimmers from 30 clubs expected to take part.

A new twist this year is that the competition will span two days—Saturday and Sunday—instead of the usual single-day format.

"This is to give the junior swimmers a competitive stage for those who, for example, didn't qualify for the National Swimming Championships. They are swimmers that have been training throughout the year and didn't make it to the National Swimming competitions, but they want to track their progress with the coaches that have been training them throughout the year," Magoola explained.

"We have 25-metre events for the junior swimmers, that is 10 and under, and then we have 50-metre and 100-metre events for the swimmers 11 years to 14 years. So, this is generally to give a platform and track progress for the coaches to see how their swimmers are performing after training for the first half of the year.

"That's why we have it every August after the National Swimming Competitions, at the end of the season. We've been preparing for this event for quite some time. It's been eight months of preparation, and by the time I speak now, everything is good to go."

Magoola confirmed that Uganda Aquatics will handle the technical aspects of the competition. He noted that the event will feature four individual events, with the individual medley sanctioned by Uganda Aquatics but hosted by Hertz Swim Club.

Swimmers will compete in butterfly, backstroke, freestyle, and breaststroke, as well as in the Individual Medley and the Cannon Relay. The 6-and-under, 7-8, and 9-10 age groups will compete over 25 metres, while the 11-12 and 13-14 categories will race in the 50-metre and 100-metre events.

“For example, Uganda has been dominating Zone 3 for the past few years, and our focus now should be on the junior swimmers. That's why we are giving them a platform to compete more, get enough experience and then they get to know what they are supposed to do when they reach the big stage of swimming, and this is what we are focusing on more.

“We have a huge turnout for the six and under, and thanks to all the coaches that are doing a lot of work outside there because we have a very huge turnout in that age group. Last year we had them, but the turnout was not so big, and they had limited events. But this time round, when you look at the events they have according to the meet program, we have the six-and-under doing the butterfly events, the backstroke events, and the breaststroke events. Yet last year we had only had them going in for only the freestyle event.

“Our expectations are to make sure and see that all the junior swimmers that are taking part in this event have their times properly taken because that's where the most focus is. And that is why we have Uganda Aquatics on board. We need to have and know the progress of the swimmers. Barnet Twesigomwe, the assistant chairman of Hertz Swim Club, encouraged the parents to come along and cheer their children.

Andrew Katumba, the assistant captain of Hertz Swim Club, said he was excited for this fourth edition. “I'm promising that my teammates and I are going to bring back several medals from our own competition. And we are promising to do the best that we can to improve our times and be better swimmers overall,” Katumba said.

Uganda Aquatics vice president Simon Peter Mugisha said such galas are very important in the development of the upcoming swimmers. “We need many such galas to improve swimming in the country and get us on the right course. I call upon all the swimmers, potential ones, and their parents to come in big numbers and support the gala. This is where our future Olympians will emanate from,” Mugisha said.