Ugandan Masters swimmers finish third in African championship in Algeria
Master's swimming is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers 25 years and older.
Avice Meya was good for two gold in the African Championship in Algeria. Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Ugandan Masters swimmers proved they are a force to reckon with on the African continent after they bagged eight medals from the second Masters African Championships 2026 in Oran, Algeria, May 7-9.
Master's swimming is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers 25 years and older.
Uganda was represented by Peter Mugisha, Peter Ssebanakitta, and Avice Kakayi Meya, who collected six gold and two silver medals between themselves, finishing third overall out of nine countries in the medal table. Host Algeria, with 84 medals, came first, while Benin, with 9 medals, came second.
Meya, 32, opened Uganda’s account with gold in the 50m butterfly, where she clocked 29.94 in the 30-34 years category, before she made 27.70 for another gold in the 50m breaststroke. Mugisha, 60, then chipped in with a silver in the 50m backstroke in 44.47 in between Senegal’s Mohammed Diop, 62, winning time of 36.82 for the gold, and Algeria’s Ouaras Allaoua’s time of 49.06 that won the bronze. He then won gold from the 50m breaststroke in 43.81, ahead of Algeria’s Ouaras Allaoua, who clocked 46.61 for the silver. In the 50m freestyle, Mugisha was good for silver after touching home in 36.81 behind Diop’s winning time of 27.94. Algeria’s Allaoua took the bronze in 38.77.
Ssebanakitta, who was the sole swimmer in the 70-74 age category, bagged gold in the 50m back, 50m breast and 50m freestyle races with times of 55.74, 44.47 and 39.41, which earned him 993 points.
“This has remarkably motivated the rest of Ugandans and us to do master's for life. Also, our athletes reaching the finals was a great opportunity for Uganda, having taken a smaller team compared to Kenya and Tanzania,” Mugisha, who also travelled as coach for Team Uganda, said.
Avice Meya swam for the seniors’ team and competed in masters, where she won gold. So, it was good to carry our country’s map on the East African continent.”
In addition to the master’s senior swimmer, Gloria Anna Muzito Muzito collected four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) to finish top as the best performer by points from three events.