Uganda targets medal haul at African Youth Chess Championship

Uganda aims to surpass its five-medal achievement from last year's 16th African Youth Chess Championship (AYCC) held in Zimbabwe, as the 17th edition of the championship gets underway at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe.

In Zimbabwe, Uganda's Sana Omprakash, Juliet Asaba, Apollo Ahumuza, Anil Suhana, and Elvis Tumusiime returned home with medals.

Omprakash topped the U-18 girls' category with 8 points, beating Nigeria's Deborah Quickpen and Botswana's Natalie Banda, who each collected 7 points.

Tumusiime won bronze in the boys' under-10 category after collecting 7 points, finishing behind Kenya's Nathaniel Manyeki (gold, 8.5 points) and Botswana's Ngwao Keoletile (silver, 7 points).

Uganda’s Sana Omprakash (left) takes on Zuri Tatiina (right) in the girls U-18 category during the first round of the Africa Youth Chess Championship. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Asaba and Ahumuza won silver medals in the under-14 and under-12 categories, respectively, after each collected 7 points, finishing behind Cassidy Elizabeth of Kenya and Rannveer Tak of South Africa.

In Entebbe, in addition to medals and trophies, winners in the under-12, under-14, and open categories will receive the FIDE Master or Woman FIDE Master titles. Silver and bronze medalists will earn the Candidate Master or Woman Candidate Master titles. Additionally, winners in the under-8, under-10, and under-12 categories will qualify for the 2027 FIDE World Cup.

This year's competition features ten Ugandans in the under-16 category, including Jemimah Wanyana, Olivia Asiimwe, Suzan Namukobe, and Nyatia Aimee Ahumuza. They will compete against strong contenders such as WFM Elizabeth Cassidy Maina and Zuri Kaloki from Kenya, WCM Rachel Jailos from Malawi, ACM Snyman Mila Marie from South Africa, and AFM Jain Amyra from Zimbabwe.

In the U-14 open category, which has 145 participants, ACM Sianyinda Lubona Twalumba from Zambia is a leading competitor. Ugandan participants include Daniel Odokonyero, Apollo Ahumuza, Edwin Edel, Trevor Tumukunde, Dara Tendereza, and George Ssempijja.

In the U-14 girls' category, top contenders are WFM Ahmed Mohamed Zakaa from Egypt, WCM Juliet Asaba from Uganda, and WCM Aina Tsinjoviniavo Mahasambatra from Madagascar.

The U-12 category features ACM James Dien from Namibia, who will compete among 186 participants. Ugandans in this category include Elvin Mukisa, Alpha Muwanguzi, Augustine Turyatemba, Mathias Mugenyi, Ronald Wabwire, Jaeden Andrew Tendo Kaweesi, Noah Bakulumpagi, Eli Sekabembe, and Sujeet Singh Siddhant.

Action in the U-7 girls category during the first round of the Africa Youth Chess Championship at the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, May 15, 2026. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

In the under-10 open category, which includes 167 contestants from seven countries, Uganda is represented by ACM Hathi Yug, Elvis Tumusiime, Francis Tumusiime, Aaron Mwesigwa Kagoda, Abba Abigaba, Daniel Amuriat, Gonzaga Atugonza, Japhet Egolet, Zachary Kaijuka, Ernest Ssengero Kiggundu, Israel Micah Ruhigwa, Dretzel Mushabe, Isaac Kamurasi Musiime, Carson Nsimire, Alvin Segane, Julian Wanyama Vaughn, and Zane Uri Kamuntu.

The under-10 girls' category features Julian Royina Nyangoma Aturinda, Shirley Baliddawa, Melisa Edinansi, Janelle Rovena Nyakato Aturinda, Katrina Katushabe, Kyla Kenza Bugingo, Martinah Andrea Kiconco, Korra Innaya Kahumuza, Keilah Kukunda Wanume, Annet Namayanja, Shontel Esa, Talitha Nshuti Rwabose, and Jenell Tukamwesigwa.

The competition will be played in a Swiss format over nine rounds.

In the under-8 open category, Ugandan participants include Sean Mulema Wavamunno, Alpha Agaba Nsenga, Mathew Jason Amanya, Aman Bariki Onapa, Lincoln Katabazi, Samuel Kaweesi, Lloyd Asher Kasumba Mukisa, Matayo Barigye, Simeon Mpamize, and Siima Munanukye.

Additional Ugandan contestants outside the open category are Aretha Karabo Kembabazi, Irene Katushabe, Liyat Mutoni Yetagesu, Marie Efata, Jacinta Mbabazi, Patricia Nabyalu, Jemimah Namakula, and Psalm Nicole Tamale.

Last year, Kenya won the overall event in Harare, Zimbabwe, with a record 10 medals (4 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze). Top performers included U-18 Open gold medalist Rafael Sharon (Zambia) and U-18 Girls champion Sana Omprakash (Uganda).

This year's participants come from Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and host Uganda.