Uganda to host East and Central Africa Rowing Championship

Following the retirement of Ugandan rower Kathleen Noble after the Paris Olympics, there were doubts whether the sport can survive beyond her and whether Uganda will have representation at the next games in Los Angeles.

The country could soon have answers when the country hosts an East and Central Africa Rowing Championship at Bunjako beach in Buwama.

According to Batenga Nakisozi, the general secretary of the Uganda Rowing Federation, six countries that include Kenya, Djibouti, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and host Uganda will compete in the three-day event aimed at re-awakening the sport in the region.

Action on the lake will be spiced up with other beach sports, beach touch rugby, and beach volleyball.

“It is really exciting for us. We are also expecting the Africa Rowing president, Mehdi Garidi, and other world rowing representatives to attend the event.” Nakisozi, who is also the head of the technical commission for World Rowing, said.

In the aftermath of the Paris 2024 Olympics and after she announced her retirement Noble suggested that the country should turn the focus on creating regional and national championships and create a team that is vibrant in the country before focusing on who the next Olympian would be

“I think it is important to compete locally and be successful on the local, regional, and continental level; otherwise, you just end up at the world championship or at the Olympics, and you come last, which might not be a good experience,” Noble reasoned.

On her part, Batenga also noted that there was a need to grow the structures, secure equipment, and have some kind of system in place for the sport to grow and develop, whether at the elite level or at the lower level and/or at the development level,” Batenga noted.

She said the World Rowing Federation had identified Uganda as a crucial partner for developing and promoting rowing in Africa, especially in East and Central Africa, and in that regard donated 17 boats to Uganda, which they are going to use to host the East and Central Africa Championship.