Swimmers set for USF national championships

National team swimmers Tara Kisawuzi, Karima Katemba, Adnan Kabuye, Kirabo Namutebi, and Hayyan Kisitu will get the perfect warm-up ahead of international duty when they compete in the 8^th edition of the National Swimming Championships at Greenhill Academy pool, June 30-July 2.

Over 1000 swimmers from 25 swimming clubs are expected to vie for the championship whose final events will be held at the Kampala Parents School swimming pool on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, June 28, at the Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) offices in Kamwokya, USF president Moses Mwase who was flanked by the vice president-technical Tonnie Kasujja said the change of venue for the final day was precipitated by the visitation day that Greenhill will have on the same day.

Other national swimmers like Charlotte Amooti, Husnah Kukundakwe and Kaumi Pendo who will in July and August represent the country in the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships in Israel, World Aquatics Championships in Japan and the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago among other events are also expected to shine for their respective clubs; in the DStv, Umeme, ICEA Lion and Aquafina water sponsored event.

Other swimmers like Heer Usadadiya, Paloma Kirabo, Marie Zara Mbanga, Shalom Birungi, Peyton Mary Suubi, Peterson Inhensiko, Mishna Lubega, Austin Wanyama, Nisha Pearl Najjuma, Giovanni Mbanga, Aya Adams and Ssango Kiggundu among others, who a few months ago shined in different tournaments in and outside the country are also expected to fight for the individual medals as they also amass points for their clubs.

Fresh from the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin Double Special Olympics gold medallist Larry Feni also gets a chance to collect some points for his club the Silverfin Academy as the USF also embark on plans to have him classified as a para swimmer.

This is one of the biggest events post-covid-19 that the USF is organising and Altona, Baseline, Dolphins, Black Panther, Flash, Gators, Gliders, Hertz, Jaguars, Seals, Sailfish, Seagulls, Kampala Aquatic, Makerere Sharks and Olympia swimming clubs among others will be looking to dominate.

“This is a premier event that we use to carry out team selections for the various international events in the coming year. But the major reason is to give opportunities for our swimmers to improve their times and get an opportunity to get selected but also be part of the pathway in their careers,” Mwase stated.

“We are making arrangements to ensure that everything goes to plan because of the uniqueness of hosting the event at two venues so that there are no issues with logistics,”

Kasujja said swimmers this season had preparatory events like the league and other events which have helped them to identify the best.

Because of the growth in numbers and clubs, some events have been divided between the different age categories to offer an opportunity for the different swimmers to try them out.