“Winning today’s championship has been one of my best moments since the year began,” says a beaming Samuel Ankunda.
Fresh off securing the boys’ singles title and the tournament MVP accolade, the Kibuli Secondary School star was the man of the hour at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
Despite a gruelling path to the trophy, including what he described as a tactical chess match against his toughest opponent, Imran Luwoza Ankunda remained the anchor for a dominant Kibuli side.
“I am very excited to be the champion. Overall, our school has performed extremely well. I am always excited whenever we play as a team,” Ankunda shared.
“The lessons I learned from this tournament are to be calm, patient, and composed.”
Ankunda’s individual brilliance was one of the centrepieces of a historic day for Kibuli Secondary School, which swept both the boys’ and girls’ secondary team titles as the Kateregga Memorial Schools’ Championship made a grand return to the national calendar.
A decade in the making
After a ten-year hiatus, the revived tournament held in memory of Ugandan table tennis legend Francis Kateregga proved that the appetite for the sport is at an all-time high.
Over 300 students from 41 teams across the country descended on Lugogo, representing primary schools, secondary schools, and universities.
While Ankunda ruled the boys’ division, teammate Parvin Nangoonzi was equally untouchable in the girls’ singles, claiming the crown and the MVP award to complete Kibuli’s clean sweep of the secondary category.
Mbogo High and Seroma Christian High School followed as runners-up in the girls’ and boys’ team events, respectively.
The talent conveyor belt was on full display in the primary and university divisions.
Primary Level: Nakasero Primary School edged out Mbogo Junior to take the girls’ team title, led by MVP Patient Anyango.
Mbogo Junior bounced back to claim the boys’ team trophy, with Rahim Masolo earning the MVP nod.
University Level: Kampala International University (KIU) topped the men’s standings behind MVP Benjamin Achuma, while Uganda Christian University (UCU) walked away with the women’s team gold.
Shanita Namaala (ISBAT) beat Flavia Amaniyo (UCU) in the University’s ladies’ singles thus clinching gold.
