Personal bests and fierce competition highlight Day Two of Uganda Aquatics Nationals

Swimmers registered several personal bests as the tenth edition of the Uganda Aquatics Swimming National Championships raged on at the Kampala Parents Swimming Pool on Wednesday.

Sailfish’s Denorah Natabi set the tone for the records when she clocked 40.27, shedding off 2.78 seconds as she won gold in the 10-and-under years category 50m breaststroke race ahead of Ozpreys’ Gianna Opolot (40.36) and Vision for Africa’s Blessing Namugga (43.32), who finished second and third, respectively.

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama (left) and Uganda Aquatics General Secretary Max Kanyerezi (right) pose with swimmer Austin Wanyama after a medal awards ceremony at the Kampala Parents School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the girls 11-12 years category, Nisha Pearl Najjuma was also in top form, winning her race and category with a new personal best of 37.62 over the same distance as Gliders Francesca Nazziwa and Black Panthers’ Daniela Munguci, who clocked 38.57 and 40.25 as they settled for silver and bronze, respectively.

In the same age category, Silverfin’s Kristian Bwisho Mugumya was also outstanding, beating teammates Elisha Kato and Samuel Kakuru to the gold in a new personal best of 36.07, just like Torpedoes’ Jonathan Kaweesa (33.02), who beat Gators’ Abdou Hakim (33.95) and Aquatics’ Ssango Kiggundu (34.25) in the boys’ 13-14 years category.

The girls’ 15-16 years 50m breaststroke race was topped by Silverfin Academy’s Raya Inell Ba, who clocked 35.80, ahead of Gators’ Tara Kisawuzi and Aquatic Academy’s Rahmah Nakasule, who finished in 35.83 and 37.34, respectively.

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama (2nd right) and IOC Member William Blick poses with some of the gold medalists after a medal awards ceremony at the Kampala Parents School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Aqua Akii’s Kirabo Namutebi also returned to the local scene, winning the 50m breaststroke 17 & over category in 33.56, beating Gators’ Swagiah Mubiru and Sailfish’s Charlotte Sanford, who clocked 35.25 and 37.31, to the gold.

Ian Aziku, 18, also dived in with a personal best of 29.66, ahead of Tendo Mukalazi (29.96) and Larry Graig Feni (30.52) over the same distance.

Thursday action was punctuated by 100m backstroke races in which Adams Aya shone, winning gold with a personal best of 1:23.80 in the 10 & under, ahead of Otters’ Valeria Nassozi and Sailfish’s Audrey Nyonyintono, who posted 1:26.34 and 1:28.87, respectively.

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama (left) and Uganda Aquatics General Secretary Max Kanyerezi (right) pose with swimmer Joshua Kaganda after a medal awards ceremony at the Kampala Parents School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The other gold medalists in the backstroke races included Jaguars’ Ashley Kimuli and Marie Zara Mbanga, who topped the boys and girls 10 & Under and the 13-14 categories in 1:24.98 and 1:10.97 ahead of Gator’s Arthur Rugaba (1:27.18) and Gliders’ Tyla Muganzi (1:13.26), who settled for silver, as Silverfin’s Raan Batuk and Crystal Ssemanda walked away with bronzes, respectively.

Selected results from 100m backstroke

Girls 11-12

Nisha Pearl Najjuma (Otters) 1:15.55

Daniela Munguci (Black Panthers) 1:22.10

Jehan Babirye (Dolphins) 1:22.11

Boys 11-12

Kristian Bwisho (Silverfin) 1:15.16

Elijah Ayesiga (Torpedoes) 1:15.18

Giovanni Cruz Mbanga (Jaguar) 1:18.76

Boys 13-14

Abdou Hakim (Gators) 1:04.51

Jonathan Kaweesa (Torpedoes) 1:09.06

Jayson Ampaire (Gators) 1:11.68

Girls 15-16

Rahmah Nakasule (Aquatic Academy) 1:11.09

Tara Kisawuzi (Gators) 1:11.43

Paloma Kirabo (Gators) 1:11.87

Boys 15-16

Heer Usadadeer (Aqua Akii) 1:02.47

Peterson Inhensiko (Gators) 1:03.61

Daniel Rukundo (Gators) 1:04.29

Girls 17 & Over

Avice Meya (Sailfish) 1:11.30

Swagiah Mubiru (Gators) 1:14.55

Charlotte Sanford (Sailfish) 1:14.75

Boys 17 & Over

Tendo Kaumi (Dolphins) 57.54

Joshua Kaganda (Sailfish) 1:01.94

Mathew Mwase (Sailfish) 1:02.86