Uganda’s Beach Volleyball teams make strong start at CAVB Championship

Uganda’s national men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams have made a determined start at the 2026 CAVB Continental Beach Volleyball Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as they continue their journey toward qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The championship, which began last Wednesday and concludes on Tuesday, has attracted top teams from across East Africa.  It also serves as the Zone V opening qualifier for the 2028 Olympics and the 2027 FIVB World Championships.

The Ugandan delegation was flagged off last Tuesday in Kampala by Uganda Volleyball Federation president Sadik Zaid Nasiwu, alongside officials from the National Council of Sports, before traveling to Tanzania.

Uganda’s head coach and head of delegation, Edward Bwenje, emphasized the tournament’s importance to the country’s Olympic ambitions.

“This championship gives our players valuable international exposure and points for Olympic qualification. Every match matters because a top finish keeps Uganda’s hopes of reaching Los Angeles 2028 alive,” Bwenje said.

Uganda’s men’s team is competing in a round-robin format against hosts Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Egypt, and Sudan, while the women’s side faces Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, and Egypt.

The women’s team has produced Uganda’s best performances so far. On Friday, the pair of Margaret Namyalo and Eunice Amuron defeated Burundi’s Nadia Buntubwimana and Emelyne Igiraneza 2–1 in a hard-fought match. Uganda’s second women’s pair, Purity Nekesa and Diana Asha Ulea, narrowly lost 2–1 to Burundi after a strong comeback in the second set. However, the overall golden set went in Uganda’s favor, as the women secured a 15–9 victory over Burundi. Uganda later registered two wins against hosts Tanzania to continue their strong start in the women’s category.

The men’s team endured a difficult opening against Burundi. Daudi Okello and Emmanuel Elanyu lost 2–1 to Burundi’s Don Diamel Ndayisaba and Engambé Igiraneza, while Uganda’s second pair, Williams Opoya and Emmanuel Ochom, lost 2–0 to Florian Manariyo and Don Carmel Gakiza.

However, the men bounced back against Kenya. Okello and Elanyu defeated Richard Amutalla and Anthony Chimanyi 2–0 to register Uganda’s first men’s victory of the championship, though Opoya and Ochom lost their match 2–0 to Kenya’s Naftali Chumba and Reagan Kipchirchir.

“The players are showing more confidence, discipline, and teamwork compared to previous tournaments. We are competing better against stronger nations and learning how to handle pressure in big matches,” Bwenje explained.

Uganda still has important fixtures against Egypt, Kenya, Sudan, and hosts Tanzania as the competition continues. Bwenje believes the teams are improving with every game.

“Our athletes have fought hard in every match, and the results show progress. We now need consistency and composure to finish stronger in the remaining games,” he noted.

The path remains crucial for Uganda, as only the top two teams will keep their hopes alive for qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, a feat that would mark a historic achievement for Ugandan beach volleyball.

CAVB Zone V Beach Championship (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

Results

Women

Pair One: Uganda 2 Burundi 1

Pair Two: Uganda 1 Burundi 2

Golden Set: Uganda 15 Burundi 9

Pair Two: Uganda 2 Tanzania 0

Pair One: Uganda 2 Tanzania 0

Men

Pair One: Uganda 1 Burundi 2

Pair Two: Uganda 0 Burundi 2

Pair One: Uganda 2 Kenya 0

Pair Two: Uganda 0 Kenya 2