Hosts Uganda made history as the inaugural winners of the three day CANA Zone III Invitational Swimming Championships that climaxed on Sunday at Kampala International School (KISU), Bukoto.
The Ugandan team was divided into two sides; Squids, that won 146 medals and accumulated 3,244 points, and Merlins who got 69 medals and 2,266 points. There were also swimmers from Rwanda, Tanzania, Djibouti and South Africa.
“South Africa gave the event a lot of credibility,” Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) general secretary Moses Mwase said.
Captain Avice Meya and Ronald Daisuke Ssegwanyi fended off competition from the South Africans and Tanzanians to finish as the best swimmers in the girls’ and boys’ ’17 and over’ age categories respectively.
Siegfred Katumwa and Katherine Bowmaker, were the other Ugandan swimmers to top their ’12 and under’ age group.
“The competition from Tanzania and South Africa was good for our swimmers and we have picked lots of lessons to prepare us for a very busy 2016,” Team coach, Tony Kasujja said.
STANDINGS
1. Uganda Squids – 3,244
2. Uganda Merlins – 2,266
3. South Africa – 1,483
4. Tanzania – 719
5. Rwanda – 375
6. Djibouti – 39
BEST OVERALL SWIMMER
12 and Under
Boys: Siegfred Katumwa (UGA) – 147 points
Girls: Katherine Bowmaker (UGA) – 151 points
13–14 years
Boys: Uveer Jaganath (SA) – 209
Girls: Jessica Beukes (SA) – 180
15–16 years
Boys: Mathew Goslin (SA) – 171 points
Girls: Josephine Oosterhuis (TZ) – 129 points
17 and Over
Boys: Ronald Ssegwanyi – 94 point
Girls: Avice Meya – 183 points