Overview:
Each team shall be made of 10 paddlers; with a drummer, 5 starters and four spare or substitute paddlers. All paddlers and those on the rescue boats will wear life jackets for safety concerns.
The Kingdom of Buganda officially launched the 2024 Royal Regatta with a special piece on the menu; the model boat that will be used throughout the 18 counties that make up Kingdom.
This launch was held at the world’s largest man-dug lake located at Ndeeba in Rubaga Division, Kampala city on Saturday, 24th February 2024.
The prime minister of Buganda Kingdom Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga was the chief guest at the launch.
He was flanked by the Buganda Kingdom Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts Owek. Robert Sserwanga, minister of culture Owek. Anthony Wamala, the Buganda royal regatta organizing committee members led by the chairperson Eng. Ben Immanuel Misagga among others.
Owek. Mayiga commended the local organizing committee for the initiative of designing a model boat and organizing the royal regatta, a key event with a long history since Kabaka Muwanga’s epoch.
“I am overwhelmed by the initiative of designing a model boat with all the basics. The Royal regatta is an important sports event in the Buganda Kingdom since the King had a Royal Navy and it would provide perfect entertainment. I thank the minister of youth, sports and arts with the able leadership of the local organizing committee” Owek. Mayiga noted.
The Youth, Sports and Arts minister Owek Sserwanga notified that the water sport is very key in Buganda Kingdom and calls all subjects of Kabaka to be part of this noble cause.
“The water sports in Buganda Kingdom has a strong background and cherished by the King Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II. We therefore have to promote this sport. We call upon all sponsors, partners and stakeholders to boldly join this struggle” Owek. Sserwanga noted.
According to Eng. Misagga, all the teams that will design their boats will use the exact specifications as that of the model boat that has been made out of the some of the exciting unique tree species as Nkalati (material for the base of the boat) and Mukebu (material for the rest of the boat and paddles).
“This is the model boat that will be used by all competitors. We are setting up the standards that will be followed to the dot. There will be no more than 6 boats racing at the same time” Eng. Misagga remarked.
The first Buganda Royal mini regatta will be held on 30th March 2024 at Bunjako beach in Buwama, Mawokota county.
The second one will be held on 1st June 2024 at Nakiwogo landing site (Port Alice) in Entebbe Municipality, Busiro county.
The final leg shall be at Life Beach in Busaabala on 24th August 2024 in Kyadondo county; on the same day there will be an exhibition of boats and open water swimming competition.
All the races will take place in two categories; 400m and 1000m with 36 teams featuring selected by the organizing committee from landing sites that have undergone orientation.
Each team shall be made of 10 paddlers; with a drummer, 5 starters and four spare or substitute paddlers. All paddlers and those on the rescue boats will wear life jackets for safety concerns.
“Safety in the water sport is paramount. A life jacket is part and parcel” Batenga Nakisozi, a member of the committee states.
Prizes:
The best team (based on points) will be rewarded with a trophy, 1 bull and a cash prize.
The second team will get a He-Goat and a cash prize with the third also getting a goat and a cash prize.
There will be individual gold, silver and bronze medals to the respective first, second and third boats in the 400m and 1000m races.
The modern boats are classified as rowing boats, canoe boats, Kayak boats, Dragon boats, sailing boats, speed boats and luxury boats.
