Overview:
13-year-old Jemimah Nakawala (Kibuli S.S), 14-year-old Parvin Nangonzi (Kibuli S.S) and 17-year-old Shanitah Namaala (Mbogo High), all of Nakasero Table Tennis club combined for the team silver in the girls’ category. 15-year-old Samuel Ankunda Mbabazi (Kibuli S.S), 16-year-old Imran Luwooza (Mbogo College) and 22-year-old Benjamin Ebenezar Achuma (Ndejje University) managed a team bronze.
After a relatively impressive performance at the Eastern Africa Regional Table Tennis championship in Djibouti, team Uganda is now poised for the 2023 Africa Cup and Clubs’ event in Kenya as well as the seniors’ championship in Tunisia.
At the Eastern Africa regional championship, Uganda managed silver (girls team) and bronze (boys’ team) to return home with some silverware despite not traveling with their head coach Jude Mutete.
13-year-old Jemimah Nakawala (Kibuli S.S), 14-year-old Parvin Nangonzi (Kibuli S.S) and 17-year-old Shanitah Namaala (Mbogo High), all of Nakasero Table Tennis club combined for the team silver in the girls’ category.
15-year-old Samuel Ankunda Mbabazi (Kibuli S.S), 16-year-old Imran Luwooza (Mbogo College) and 22-year-old Benjamin Ebenezar Achuma (Ndejje University) managed a team bronze.
The team was hosted to an official welcome party at the Uganda Olympic Committee boardroom.
Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) president Robert Jjagwe was joined by coaches Jude Mutete and Robert Ssekitoleko as well as UOC’s assistant administrator Arthur Nuwagaba.
Jjagwe noted that the attention will now switch to preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup and club championships in Kenya (3rd to 10th May) as well as the Africa seniors event in Tunisia.
“I thank the players for the brave and collective effort in Djibouti where we managed to get silver and bronze for the team girls and team boys’ respectively. Now, we are starting preparations for the 2023 Africa Cup and club championships coming in early May as well as the Africa seniors later in September to be hosted by Tunisia” Jjagwe remarked.
Jjagwe appreciated the effort of schools and local coaches; Jude Mutete (national head coach), Mary Musoke (Nakasero Table Tennis club), Robert Ssekitoleko (Mbogo college), Alvin Katumba, Tendo Balyewunya (Kibuli S.S.S) and others.
He also lauded Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) who managed a humble contribution of $1,250 as top up in the preparation, National Council of Sports (NCS) as well as individual sponsors as US based John Sebbowa ($100).
UOC’s Arthur Nuwagaba thanked UTTA, players especially those who qualified for the Africa seniors event, promising more assistance whenever called upon.
“Uganda Olympic Committee wishes to thank Uganda Table Tennis Association for organizing the players and teams. Special thanks to the players who qualified. Our hands will always be open to assist whenever called upon” Nuwagaba noted.
National head coach Jude Mutete hinted about the steadfast progress of the game among young players.
“Uganda Table Tennis Association made a bold resolution to work with the young players and develop them further. This was a dream that was started long time ago and now starting to ripe fruits” Mutete reasoned.
Mbogo College’s head coach Robert Ssekitoleko appreciated the players for their effort.
“I want to thank the players upon the achievements registered. To all those who qualified. Congragulations and we wish them well” Ssekitoleko remarked.
Benjamin Achuma who traveled as the captain and most senior player vowed to improve in the subsequent championships.
“We take the bold lessons from the championship in Djibouti. We are promising more next time” Achuma, a student at Ndejje University noted.