PAU awards sh116m to honour pool achievements and medalists

The Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) celebrated the sport’s standout performers during an awards ceremony held over the weekend, recognising achievements across clubs, regional associations, and individual players.

Cash prizes and medals were handed out for exceptional performance throughout the 2024/2025 season. According to PAU Chairman Bob Trubish, all teams that participated in the Nile Breweries-sponsored league received sh3 million each to support operational cos, a major increase from last season’s sh500,000.

“We awarded all the teams that participated in the league... It’s a significant increment meant to ease the financial strain on clubs,” said Trubish.

The funds benefited 16 men’s teams and seven women’s clubs. In addition, the top six men’s teams and top four women’s teams received extra rewards, with the PAU distributing a total of sh100 million in club prizes. Another sh2 million was allocated to support each regional association, bringing the total prize purse to sh116 million.

“We also recognised the players who came from Mauritius and won medals from the Mauritius Commonwealth games. We recognise Caesar Chandiga who won a gold medal, Kasozi Joseph who won a silver medal and Rukiya Nayiga and Marion Kisakye who won bronze medals,” he said.

Trubish deemed the season a success but they still have to find a solution to some of the issues the sport suffered like players travelling for international meets in the middle of the season and how it interrupted the league.

“We had issues of players travelling for other tournaments, some local and others international. At times when the player numbers were significant, we would postpone the league. It is important that when players travel, we should have clear guidelines on what needs to happen in the league,” he explained.