Uganda put up a spirited fight to successfully defend the Africa Woodball Championship overall title.

After the stroke competitions on Friday morning, Uganda was trailing the hosts Kenya who had collected four gold medals, four silvers, and silvers.

However, in the afternoon, the boys changed the game-winning five gold medals and claimed the overall victory of the continental event.

The panic was a bit high and the pressure was on the boys who had lost the overall men's title to Kenya on day one, but Mark Kayongo, the Uganda Woodball president intervened and advised them to cool down.

Uganda women team of Florence Mukooya, Joan Mukoova, Joyce Nalubega and Christine Birungi won the Women overall trophy. Photo by Johnson Were

“Why are you playing under pressure? Slow down the game and take your time," Kayongo told the team that had already given up.

This motivated them and they changed the gameplay in Fairway competitions in the afternoon to win four gold medals that helped Uganda win the overall trophy.

Coach Eric Enabu was impressed by the ome back to win four gold medals which enabled them to win the overall trophy despite losing the men’s trophy on day one.

“It was a tight situation, but I am impressed the boys made a comeback and we claimed the overall trophy which had almost lost Kenya,” Enabu said after the games.

Team MUBS won the Men overall team category

In the female category rookie, Florence Mukooya lived up to her expectations by overcoming a stiff Ugandan opposition to win a gold in the stroke competition.

She pooled 54, 49, 55 totalling 158 stokes, to beat teammate Joan Mukoova (162 strokes) and Christine Birungi (172strokes) who won silver and bronze respectively. 

"I'm so happy that on the first appearance I won a gold. This has motivated me to go back and work hard so that I qualify on the team to the World Cup," Mukooya said.

Overall

1. Uganda 14 medals (7 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze)

2. Kenya 15 medals (4gold, 7silver, 4 bronze)

3. Burundi 3medals (1 silver, 2 bronze)

Overall Men

1. Kenya 417 strokes

2. Uganda 433

3. Malawi 613

Women Overall

1. Uganda 456 strokes

2. Kenya 475

3. Burundi 716

Fairway Competition

Singles men

Thomas Kedi (UG) Gold

Singles women

Florence Mukooya (UG) Gold

Team category

Men

Kenya (Gold)

Uganda (Silver)

Malawi (bronze)

Women

Uganda (Gold)

Burundi (Silver)

Kenya (Bronze)