Uganda shines at inaugural ANOCA School Games, finishes 13th overall
Host nation Algeria topped the medal table with a commanding haul of 245 medals, including 103 gold, 81 silver, and 61 bronze.
Team Uganda after the games. PHOTOS: Julius Kafuluma
By Julius Kafuluma
Journalists @New Vision
Uganda concluded a strong showing at the inaugural Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) School Games, finishing 13th out of 50 participating countries.
The week-long multi-sport competition, which ended on Wednesday evening, was staged across five Algerian cities—Algiers, Annaba, Constantine, Skikda, and Setif, and attracted over 3,000 young athletes competing in 25 disciplines.
Host nation Algeria topped the medal table with a commanding haul of 245 medals, including 103 gold, 81 silver, and 61 bronze. Egypt and Tunisia secured second and third places respectively, while Nigeria and Kenya rounded out the top five.
Competing in just eight disciplines, Uganda earned a respectable 13th-place finish with five medals, one gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Team Uganda’s Chief of Mission, Lydia Dhamuzungu, praised the squad’s effort, highlighting that many athletes were making their international debuts. She pointed to limited preparation time and a small delegation focused on select sports as factors that influenced the overall outcome.
“Many of our athletes were stepping onto the international stage for the first time, and they held their own against some of the best on the continent. We definitely could have won more medals if we had more time to prepare and sent a larger team focused on our strengths,” she said.
Dhamuzungu stressed the need for early planning to optimize Uganda’s chances at future competitions. “We’ve taken away some valuable lessons. Our athletes have gained crucial exposure, and now it’s about planning ahead and sending our best to represent the country in future competitions,” she added.
Set to be held every two years, the ANOCA School Games offer young African athletes a vital platform as they prepare for elite competitions like the Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in Dakar, Senegal next year. During the closing ceremony, Nigeria was announced as the host for the 2027 edition, with Kenya confirmed for 2029.