The inaugural edition of the East African Regional Beach Rowing Sprint was successfully held at Bunjako beach in Mawokota Ssaza, Mpigi district.
Rowers from host country Uganda were joined by those from Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Kenya in the various events under the different categories of U17, U19, U23 and the seniors.
Top performers:
Zimbabwe’s Tawananyasha Chakona won the U-17 women single scull ahead of Uganda’s Grace Kyomuhendo and Kenyan, Bellamine Moraa.
Another Zimbabwe youngster, Chinhamo Tungamirai clocked 2:41:79 to win the boy’s U-17 single scull event.
Imran Anwar (Kenya) came second with 03:36:37, ahead of Happy Kabwanda from Malawi.
The male U-19 single scull event was won by Innocent Wandera from Uganda with 02:58:91 ahead of countrymate Joshua Masola (02:55:33).
Uganda won the male single scull category with Sharifu Lukwago clocking 02:58:93, ahead of Joshua Masola (03:04:31) and another Ugandan Raymond Lutwama (02:58:00).
Kenya championed the women single scull as Diana Natecho clocked 03:03:02 ahead of another Kenyan, Marion Masaranja (03:10:90).
The Zimbabwe duo of Chakona Tawananyasha and Chinhamo Tungamirari won the the U-17 double scull event with a time of 02:46:76 ahead of Kenyan combo of Imran Anwar and Bellamine Moraa (03:51:07).
Malawi’s pairing of Happy Fannie and Fatsani Kabwanda finished third with a time of 07:10:15.
The U-19 mixed scull was claimed by Uganda’s pairing of Grace Innocent and Wandera Kyomuhendo with 03:13:57.
The Buganda Kingdom minister of sports, arts and youth Owek. Robert Serwanga Ssalongo was the special guest and engaged in the rewarding ceremony of the top performers.
Owek.Serwanga appreciated the Uganda Rowing Federation for their efforts towards the development of the game.
“I thank Uganda Rowing Federation in a special way for organizing the East Africa regional beach rowing sprint where a number of countries have attended. As Buganda Kingdom, we are proud of this organization as we also organize similar regattas” Owek. Sserwanga remarked.
He pledged to render all the possible support towards the development as well as calling the youth to join the game.
“I urge the youth to join this interesting sport. Buganda Kingdom vows to offer all the necessary support possible” he added.
Other guests included Dr. Donald Rukare, the president of Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) , National Council of Sports representative Sarah Chelangat as well as officials from World Rowing and the Africa Rowing Federation.
The competition was preceded by a capacity building course for coaches attracting participants, 10 of whom were Ugandans.
Olympian Grace Kathleen Noble also graced this championship.
This was a great experience congratulations to all the other wonderful athletes from Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zambia whom we got the pleasure of meeting it was an honor. Looking forward to seeing you all again in the foreseeable future. Today’s losers are tomorrows winners- Tunga Chinhamo- Team Zimbabwe.