Uganda fields 33 masters swimmers to defend Africa Aquatics crown

Uganda’s Masters women team’s captain Abisagi Namugenze Mugenyi has praised the team members for their resilience ahead of their participation in the tenth edition of the Africa Aquatics Zone 3 Championship in Kenya.

Uganda has fielded 33 masters’ swimmers in this year’s edition to ensure they defend the championship they won last year in Burundi.

Namugenze noted that the team had gone through rigorous training for the last couple of months and are determined to defend their title in the event that starts on Thursday.

“We are confident in the team we have taken. These are swimmers that have been dedicated, resilient and train almost every day to better their craft,” she noted.

“You must have the mental capacity, the mental maturity to put those hours into it, you have to be dedicated and work through the pain, to ensure you get to your end goal. It is not a simple feat that they have undertaken but we are confident in who they are, in their confidence and their drive and we know that they will fight to their last breath,” Namugenze who will be competing in four events, said.

Phillip Nuwagaba, 25, a student of Makerere University, the youngest on the team of 33, who is going for his first Masters Swimming Championship said he was looking forward to making his debut count.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity and I’m excited to compete in this event because it is one of the biggest events in the region which has attracted over 11 countries. We have prepared for over six months and we expect to return victorious,” Nuwagaba said before Uganda Airlines sales person Jude Kugonza announced their partnership with UA during a press conference at Lugogo on Tuesday.

Another team member Rachael Amito who is also making her debut in an African event said she was glad to be representing Uganda.

“We have prepared well I have swum competitively for about a year now but I have loved swimming for a while and I have prepared well for it. We have taken the best swimmers and I hope to shine in the backstroke and freestyle events.

“I’m a bit nervous since it is my first African event but I’m trying to channel all this into a positive attitude because this going to be an opportunity for me to measure myself against the best and see where I lie. So, if it doesn’t work out this year, I will do it again next year,” Amito stated.

Kugonza said they were committed to offering more discounted rates to all sports federations as they travel to represent the country in other countries.

“Sports is one of those things that bring people together from all walks of life and it is one of those places that people find love, peace and camaraderie. And as Uganda Airlines one of our mandates is to enable the economy not only through business but in other aspects like culture and sports, music and other creatives,”

Uganda Aquatics General Secretary Max Kanyerezi said they were trying to prepare the swimmers for various regional and international events including next year’s Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the World University Games in Riyad among other events.

“Athletes are making better times with each event and we are happy to say that with this partnership with Uganda Airlines we will be able to send more swimmers to events outside the country,” he stated.