The 2017 edition of the National Schools Chess Championships will be hosted by Mount of Olives College Kakiri in Wakiso district, Uganda Chess Federation [UCF] has confirmed.
The event that commences on 5th May has attracted over 40 primary and secondary schools from across the country, and Namilyango College come as defending champions in the boys’ category, while St Mbuga Vocational SSS are reigning champions in the girls’ category.
With Michael Basangwa, Solomon Mugoda, Innocent Kamya and Eric Mboiz, some of the top young players in the country as their representatives, Namilyango are favorites to retain the title they won last year, but record champions St Mbuga will try to regain glory.
The seven day event will be used to handpick representatives for this year’s African Schools Individual Chess Championships that will take place in Namibia in August, choose representatives at the World Cadet U-8, U-10, U-12 Chess Championships in Brazil as well as selecting those who will represent the country at the World Youth U-14, 16 and U-18 Chess Championships in Uruguay later this year.
Kings College Budo, Makerere College, Bishop McAllister in Bushenyi, Ntare SS, St Maria Gorreti Katende, Jinja College Butiki, Busoga College Mwiri, St Masero Academy, Kibuka Mixed Primary School, Good times Kawala Primary School, Kyandodo SS, Silver Spoon Primary School are among the schools that will take part.