Uganda woodball team ready to challenge defending champions at World Cup

Uganda arrived on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Kuala Lumpur Airport and boarded a train to the capital city of Malaysia, where the team spent a night at Westree Hotel.

The following day, the team travelled 500km from Kuala Lumpur City to Perlis City, where the tournament will be held, after spending eight hours on the road.

However, the team is more than ready for the challenge. The battleground is set, and teams are geared up for the top competitive woodball tournament in the world, which enters day three of the competitions.

Coach Onesimus Atamba is confident that his charges are physically and mentally ready for the challenge in today's competitions after acclimatising to the environment and climate over three days.

Over 14 countries are taking part, including Thailand, Peru, Nepal, Singapore, India, Kenya, China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Uganda, defending champions Indonesia, and hosts Malaysia.

Defending champions Indonesia have all eyes on Uganda, a team that gave them a run for their money in the 2023 edition of the World Cup in Thailand. Atamba, who featured for the team that won silver, returns to the tournament as head coach and is full of hope because of the experienced side he has assembled.

National Council of Sports Assistant Secretary Milton Chebet flags off Team Uganda as they depart for the World Cup in Malaysia. PHOTO: Johnson Were

Samson Rugongesa hits the course first on Saturday morning, with Thomas Kedi being the...

In the women's side, experience leads the squad that includes Christine Birungi, Joan Mukoova, Joyce Nalubega, and Florence Mukoya, who were in the 2023 squad, while team captain Thomas Kedi was in the men's side.

"I am full of hope that we shall have good results. The team is a mix of both experienced and upcoming stars who boost their experience in competitive woodball. So, we are good to go," Atamba said.

Who is who on the team:

Samson Rugongesa

The 30-year-old, a player of Prisons Woodball Club, started woodball in 2017 at Makerere University.

Rugongesa is more than ready to challenge any opponent, and his target is to help Team Uganda win gold at the World Cup.

Sanyu Mirembe

She is 27 years old and a player of Kampala International University. She started woodball in 2024 and is ready for any opposition on the course.

She looks at raising the Ugandan flag and her club's as well, and to outshine.

Thomas Kedi

Aged 31, Kedi features for Kyambogo Stroke Woodball Club. He started woodball in 2015 and is the team captain. Kedi, the most experienced player on the team, is thrilled for the tournament, and his focus is on winning all the games to push Uganda to victory.

Bridge Byamukama Kwijuka

Aged 29, Byamukama played for Kampala International University and started woodball way back in 2016 at St. Joseph's Technical Kisubi.

His target at the world stage is to help Team Uganda win the gold before thinking of the individual gold. "I will focus on team victory, but that will come from winning gold in the individual competitions."

Brian Gwaka

Aged 31, Gwaka is a player for Kampala International University Club in the national championships. He started playing woodball in 2016, and his target is to help the national team win gold in the championship.

Isaac Nabugere

He is a player for Uganda Prisons Woodball Club in the national competitions and started woodball in 2018. The 30-year-old is focused and determined to play his best to win medals for both the national team and in the individual categories.

Noeline Nalwoga Babirye

The University of Kisubi player started playing woodball in 2019. Aged 27, she is excited about being part of the World Cup team. She values representing her country with pride, qualifying for the finals, and competing for a medal. "I will also aim to improve my personal performance, gain international experience, and contribute to my team's success. Ultimately, my dream is to become a World Cup champion and inspire more young people to take up woodball," Nalwoga stated.

Florence Mukoya a.k.a Flare

She is aged 31 and plays for Kampala University Woodball Club and has won several national woodball championships. She started playing woodball in 2014. Mukoya is focused on winning a medal for Uganda. "I am happy to be part of the national team and contributing to the team's success by winning the gold medal and striving to win each game I will play," said Mukoya.

Joyce Nalubega

Nalubega is one of the country's female woodball top seeds. Aged 32, Nalubega, who works for Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), plays for the Ministry of Public Service in the national competitions.

The two-time Woodball Most Valuable Player started playing woodball in 2014. She featured for the team in the 2023 World Cup in Thailand, and her target this year is to win a medal in both team fairway and stroke competitions.

Joan Mukoova

The Ministry of Water and Environment employee plays for the Ministry of Public Service Woodball Club in the national competitions.

She started playing woodball in 2014 at Ndejje University and has represented Uganda in different competitions, including the 2014 World Cup in Sanya, China, and was part of the FISU World Woodball Championship in Perlis, Malaysia, in 2014, and the 2017 1st Beach World Cup in Binta, Indonesia.

She was in the 2018 World Cup in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the 2019 World Cup in Entebbe, Uganda, and the 2023 World Beach Woodball in Pahang, Malaysia.

She returns to Malaysia for the World Cup targeting a gold medal for the country. "I have got individual medals before and have also been part of a team that brought gold to Uganda in the fairway, but this time round I believe we have the potential to win both stroke and fairway medals," Mukoova said.

Denise Pulkeria Nanjeru

Aged 29, Nanjeru is a player for Kyambogo Stroke Woodball Club. She started woodball in 2011 and was one of the top performers in the national team trials. Nanjeru is more focused on representing her country with pride and playing to the best of her abilities to ensure that the team gets the gold medals. Any extra individual medal to top that off is icing on the cake.

David Kabugo

The 25-year-old player started woodball at Ndejje University in 2020, helping the Luwero-based institution win several accolades. He currently plays for Kampala University Woodball Club, and winning both team and individual medals is top of his agenda.

The other players on the team are Isaac Ariho, Christine Birungi, and Shakira Nagudi.

The players will feature in both the stroke and fairway competitions, and thereafter, some players will feature in the Malaysian Open.