Government might be struggling to financially motivate the contingent at the All Africa Games but the badminton team has already got down to business.
The Edwin Ekiring led side defeated Botswana 4-1 in their first game at the event on Wednesday.
We needed to start strongly and we utilized every chance to make sure we get the win, we were more agile on court and our game reading was better than that of Botswana
Shamim Bangi made an easy meal out of Botho Makubate as she won comfortably 2-0 (21-10, 21-8).
Silver medalist four years ago in Maputo Ekiring defeated Gaone Tawana also in straight sets (21-11, 21-14)
While leading 2-0, Uganda failed to make it 3-0 after Daisy Nakalyango and 15 year old Brian Kasirye lost to Kgalalelo Kegakilwe and Orideetse Thela 2-1 (21-23, 21-14, 17-21).
Ekiring and Kasirye joined forces to stretch the lead to 3-1 with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-15) win over Thela and Tawana, Bangi and Nakalyango completed the win with a 21-10, 21-11 win over Kegakilwe and Makubate.
Uganda takes on Nigeria tomorrow in their last Pool B game with a win for the former seeing them qualify as top seeds into the quarterfinals.
Bangi shared with Kawowo Sports their approach;
Nigeria will be tough for us but we are ready for the challenge, we would like to qualify for the quarters with a 100 percent record, a win will also help us to keep our rhythm and confidence up there
Hosts Congo Brazzaville, Mauritius and Ghana are in Pool A, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya in Pool C while Seychelles, DR Congo, Ethiopia and Algeria are in Pool D.