Swimming: Aga Khan come good in independence gala

USF Independence Swimming Gala

Combined overall team scores

Aga Khan School 3260 pts

Bristish School of Kampala 2032 pts

GEMS Cambridge Int. Sch Kla 1768

Makerere University  1110pts

Bethel International Christian School 876pts

Kampala Parents School 813 pts

Word of Life 768pts

Kampala Junior Academy 638 pts

Gayaza High School 606 pts

Hillside Primary School432 pts

Train Up A Child 182 pts

Mugwanya Preparatory 62 pts

The annual USF Independence swimming gala is a tried and tested contest that forms part of the Uganda Swimming Federation's core principal of grass roots development in the country.

Exclusive to schools, it has certainly come of age with more growth in significance and numbers over the years.

The federation has since prioritised nurturing talent at a relatively young age of a swimmer. Keeping in mind that swimming is an everyday sport, more competitions including the Independence gala make a lot more sense for swimmers.

The event has also formed a basis for selecting swimmers for CANA events which adds an extra meaning to the usually two day competition.

Conversely, it has turned into a one man show of sorts with Aga Khan boasting of a four year grip on the tittle.

The school known to harbour some of the best local swimmers collected a total of 3260 points to clinch the seventeenth edition Sunday at Kampala International School of Uganda (KISU)

With respectable perfomances from virtually all their swimmers, 15 year old Selina Katumba stepped up on day two leading in the 50m freestyle (28.98), 50m backstroke (35:80), 200m free syle (2: 20.28)

Adnan Kabuye, the 16-year-old who is tipped to be a mainstay in Uganda's swimming equally impressed with among others a top finish in 50m backstroke on Sunday. He has since poseda huge challenge to British School of Kampala's Tendo Mukalazi.

Meanwhile British School of Kampala's 13 year old Kirabo Namutebi was one of the key standouts for the second finishers. She impressed in 5om backstroke (32.67) 10m backstroke (1:23.80), 50m free style (27.85) are some of the events where she excelled finishing top.

The late David Walakira a former managing director of Excel Insurance was honoured through an award in his name having supported the event for a long time.

EMAIL: kbalikuddembe@newvision.co.ug

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