UCU’s Tendo Kasoma triumphs at inaugural ATTA table tennis gala

Uganda Christian University’s (UCU) Tendo Kasoma beat Mariam Kirabira Nampeewo 3-0 to win the inaugural edition of the Agenda Table Tennis Association (ATTA) Independence gala played at the Agenda Cottages Gardens in Namugongo on Sunday.

Kasoma employed long serves and perfect returns throughout his games to ensure the victory against his school mate, to walk away with a beautiful trophy.

Enroute to the final Kasoma eliminated Max Wenka and Steven Karamagi before she saw-off Kirabira in the final while the latter had seen off David Oberu, Irene Wotanabera and Lydia Nandala in the mixed gender championship in the elite players’ draw.

Despite losing the final, Kirabira said the event had helped her sharpen her skills ahead of the National University Games that UCU is going to host in December.

“Celebrating independence with this tournament has energized me as a player and my team mates because it has gone on record, with the organisers putting a different dimension to the celebration,” Kirabira, a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting and Finance student, said.

“We have been training but this event has offered us an opportunity to gauge ourselves and prepare us more for the National University Games in December.

“I’m eight years into the sport and I can’t regret taking on the sport because I have earned a scholarship from the sport, travelled around the world and I encourage all youngsters to embrace sport because sport builds confidence offers exposure and opens up immense opportunities,” she stated.

In the corporate category, Jaime Byaruhanga beat Vigil Amanya in straight sets to also emerge champion after earlier victories against Brian Bagarukayo, Joseph Kibirige, Herbert Ebamu (W/O), and Edith Namukasa.

According to ATTA chairman Colin Byamukama the association was started in 2000 to promote members health, physical wellness, integrity, team spirit, social discipline, sportsmanship and instill a general sense of community.

“This is one of the avenues to encourage continuous exercise among people who give up sport beyond school. So here we invite all players of all levels who can compete in their respective categories and walk away with trophies, certificates and medals,” Byamukama stated.

“We encourage the working class, corporates and university students to train and compete with us as we instill the spirit of competition, networking, the importance of commitment and the spirit of association.”

He said a number of corporate companies including the Mandela Group of Companies, Global Trotters, Birungi Barata & Associates, Stanbic, Centenary Bank, Coca Cola, Bank of Uganda among others have supported previous competitions at the facility.