15 Ugandan swimmers for CANA Zone 1V championships in Zimbabwe

A team of 15 Ugandan swimmers start heading to Zimbabwe in batches from today to represent the country at this year's CANA Zone 1V Swimming Championships, February 16 - 19 in Zimbabwe.

Mary Kezia Wairimu (Head Coach), Sarah Malan (Team Manager) and Dorothy Byansi (Team Doctor) are the officials in charge of the team.

Six parents/chaperons in, Margaret Sine, Grace Kiggundu, Annette Mwebeiha, Lillian Nakijoba, Daniella Atim and Swalleh Ssenteza are also travelling alongside.

The team comprises of seven female and eight male swimmers led by team Captain Avice Meya. The rest are Kirabo Namutebi, Suubi Byansi, Hannat Nakimuli, Shelby Clow, Hannah Neilson, and Mercedes Mwebeiha.

The boys' team is comprised of Raphael Sine, Nicholas Malan, Mikka Kiggundu, Abba Mayanja, Samora Byansi, Darren Ssamula, Adnan Kabuye and Tendo Mukalazi.

 Abba Mayanja is making his debut at the CANA Zone 1V championships

The Ugandans will face competition from swimmers from South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Seychelles and Mauritius among others.

Last year Uganda finished 10th out of 14 countries, collecting 10 medals with only 9 swimmers and with a bigger team are expected to perform even better. Many on the team represented the country at the CANA Zone 3 invitational swimming championships in Kigali, last November.

Last year's event was won by hosts Mauritius, who dethroned the small South Africa squad who were the winners of the competition that was held in Luanda, Angola in 2015.

Uganda's Nabil Saleh was Uganda's best swimmer at last year's event with three medals that included a gold, silver and bronze in the 100m backstroke and butterfly races respectively.

Other medal winners then included Selina Katumba, Atuhaire Ambala, Ben Kaganda and Fadhil Saleh.