Day one of the second meet of the Uganda Aquatics Swimming League delivered an exciting showcase of talent, endurance, and rising stars at Kampala Parents School, with swimmers from across the country setting the tone for a highly competitive weekend.
The opening day featured a packed schedule of events across multiple age groups, with standout performances in both freestyle and butterfly races.
One of the highlights came in the Girls 11 & Over 400m freestyle, where Zara Marie Mbanga of Jaguar Swim Club claimed top position with an impressive time of 4:51.53, comfortably hitting the qualifying mark. She was closely followed by Paloma Kirabo of Gators Swim Club Kampala (4:56.70) and Mackayla Ssali of Dolphins Swim Club Kampala (5:01.81), underlining the depth of competition in the middle-distance category.
In the Boys 11 & Over 400m freestyle, Arthur Mwase of Sailfish Swim Club Kampala delivered one of the fastest swims of the day, touching the wall in 4:20.33(breaking the standing national record). His commanding performance placed him well ahead of Pendo Kaumi (4:35.85) and Isaiah Kuc (4:40.64), both of whom also secured qualifying times in a fiercely contested race.
The younger swimmers also made their mark, particularly in the 10 & Under 50m butterfly events. Aya Adams of Blue Whales Aquatic Venture stood out in the girls’ race with a swift 34.70 finish, while Tzion Tamale of Aqua Akii Swim Club led the boys with a time of 35.30. These performances highlighted the promising pipeline of young talent emerging within Uganda’s swimming scene.
Sprint events across older age groups brought equally thrilling action. In the Girls 11–12 50m butterfly, Mushirah Nabatunzi of Aquatic Academy Kampala dominated with a time of 32.10, while Shane Mugenyi of Otters Swim Club Uganda led the Boys 11–12 category in 29.89. Among the 13–14 swimmers, Tyrah Muganzi (30.30) and Benjamin Ssali (28.35) topped the girls’ and boys’ events, respectively, showcasing speed and technical excellence.
The senior categories continued the high standard, with Paloma Kirabo returning to win the Girls 15–16 50m butterfly (31.73), and Jonathan Kaweesa of Torpedoes Swim Club clocking an outstanding 26.11 to win the Boys 15–16 race, one of the fastest sprint times of the day.
Across all events, a significant number of swimmers achieved qualifying times, reflecting both improved standards and the importance of this league as a pathway to national competitions later in the year. Clubs such as Gators Swim Club Kampala, Dolphins Swim Club Kampala, Imara Aquatics, and Sailfish Swim Club Kampala consistently featured on the podium, emphasising their strong presence in the league.
Day one not only highlighted elite performances but also underscored the growth of competitive swimming in Uganda, with participation spanning a wide age range—from as young as 6 years old to senior swimmers. As the second meet continues, anticipation remains high for more record-breaking swims and emerging stars in the pool.