Altona and Uganda Police triumph in inaugural open water swimming championship

The inaugural Uganda Aquatics National Open Water Championships saw Altona secure the age-group title with 125 points, outpacing Gators (106 points) and Makerere University (58 points). In the Masters category, Uganda Police dominated, amassing 201 points, well ahead of Formidables (127 points) and Kampala Quality Marlins (67 points).

The competition, held at Entebbe Sailing Club, provided a challenging yet valuable experience for swimmers and organizers alike. Moses Mwase, president of Uganda Aquatics, noted the unique demands of open water swimming, emphasizing the importance of safety and visibility for all participants. “It was a different ball game,” Mwase stated, highlighting the need to refine technical aspects such as scoring in future events.

Challenges with equipment, such as drifting buoys due to strong waves, were identified, with plans to use heavier anchors for the upcoming Africa Aquatics Zone III Open Water Championships. This regional event is scheduled to take place on the same Lake Victoria course on October 25.

Notable individual performances included Arthur Mwase of Sailfish winning the boys’ 16 & Over 5km race and Sonia Mwere of Altona leading a one-two finish in the girls’ 5km event. Despite winning only one race in the age-group category, Altona’s consistent high placings across all divisions were key to their team victory. Uganda Police’s strength in numbers was evident in the Masters’ events, where they secured multiple podium finishes.

Organizers expressed optimism about the 78 athletes who participated, viewing the event as a successful debut with potential for significant growth. Future plans include enhancing spectator experience with technology like drones and live feeds, subject to resource availability and the demands of upcoming regional competitions.