The future of aquatics in Uganda took a decisive turn with the announcement that the federation has secured five acres of land in Seroma to develop a national aquatic centre. The land, leased through a partnership with Seroma Christian Schools, is set to become a cornerstone for long-term athlete development, improved facilities and international competitiveness.
The revelation came during a wide-ranging stakeholders’ engagement that brought together club administrators, school heads, managers and coaches. The meeting, the first of the year, was designed to build on the gains of 2025 while aligning members with new legal, strategic and technical directions for the sport.
According to federation leadership, the Seroma land agreement has been in the works for some time. After unsuccessful discussions with several institutions in the city, Seroma Christian Schools agreed to lease the land free of charge, effectively entering into a partnership aimed at growing aquatics. The location, though perceived by some as distant, was described as accessible, with the potential to rally resources over time and establish a fully-fledged aquatic centre. In the interim, discussions are ongoing with World Aquatics to operationalise swimming activities on the site as broader development plans are finalised.
Beyond infrastructure, compliance with the national sports law featured prominently on the agenda. Stakeholders were updated on the federation’s licensing process with the National Council of Sports (NCS), which is still ongoing. The council has requested several adjustments, prompting a return to the drawing board to address outstanding requirements. Complicating but also guiding the process is the recent receipt of draft national facilities regulations from NCS, which federations are expected to review and comment on by January 19, ahead of a joint meeting of national federations later in the month.
The engagement also provided an update on the federation’s ambitious eight-year strategic plan (2025–2032). The plan, developed with guidance from consultant Michelle L, is built on extensive stakeholder feedback and sets a long-term vision for producing better-quality athletes, improving governance, and creating a more professional and progressive federation. While close to 150 responses have already been received, members were challenged to push participation closer to 200 as the plan nears completion, with a special general meeting expected in about a month to close the process formally.
Central to the strategy is performance. The federation reiterated its ultimate goal: producing swimmers who qualify for international competitions, win medals and make Uganda proud. To support this, facilities, competition quality, coaching standards and athlete welfare are all being addressed in tandem.
One practical outcome is the adoption of a three-year competition calendar aligned to the strategic objectives. Stakeholders reviewed the order and purpose of events, emphasising quality over quantity. While acknowledging that no calendar can satisfy everyone, the federation underscored guiding principles such as well-organised competitions, capacity building, and inclusion of other aquatic disciplines like open water swimming and water polo, with possible demonstration events for artistic swimming and diving in the future.
To tackle congestion at national championships, new competition formats will limit heats, particularly for long-distance events such as the 800m and 1500m freestyle. These races will largely be contested at league level, with only the top-ranked swimmers progressing to nationals. The aim is to decongest events, improve officiation, and ensure championships are completed efficiently within four days.
In line with raising standards, motivation times for 2025–2032, released on December 20, will now serve as benchmarks across all swimming activities. Qualification times for national events are set to rise, encouraging continuous improvement. These updates, alongside regulations and resources, have been published on the federation’s revamped website.
Capacity building for coaches emerged as a priority area. Plans are underway to revive an annual coaches’ convention, alongside regular Level One, Two and Three courses built around a standardised national coaching curriculum. Coaches will be required to accumulate minimum training hours annually to retain certification, a move aimed at professionalising the sector and improving athlete outcomes.
The federation also proposed revisions to membership and athlete fees, which have remained minimal for years. Club membership fees are set to rise from Shs250,000 to about Shs400,000 annually, while athlete registration is expected to increase from Shs10,000 to around Shs50,000, adjustments described as necessary but still modest.
Looking ahead to major competitions, preparations for the Commonwealth Games were discussed. While Uganda’s swimming quota is yet to be confirmed, the federation plans to introduce quarterly ranking lists for swimmers, ensuring selection is based on current form rather than past performances.
Safety, underscored by a recent tragic incident in Egypt, closed the discussions. The federation announced that all event hosts will be required to comply with minimum safety and facility guidelines, to be issued in the coming weeks and aligned with NCS regulations. Athlete welfare, officials stressed, is non-negotiable.
From governance and safety to strategy and a landmark facility in Seroma, the year has begun with momentum and a clear signal that Ugandan aquatics is swimming towards a more structured, ambitious future.