The 2026 Uganda Aquatics Masters Swimming Gala will take place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Kampala Parents’ School in Naguru, following two changes to the competition date as organizers worked to secure a more suitable venue for the country’s masters swimmers.
Initially scheduled for July 11, the gala was postponed to July 18 to find a better swimming facility. However, the preferred venue remained unavailable, prompting Uganda Aquatics to move the event to July 25, where it will now be held at Kampala Parents’ School in Naguru.
According to Meet Director Erick Kisero, the decision to postpone the event was made to ensure masters swimmers compete in improved conditions.
“We extended the gala because the facility was not available. We wanted to give the masters swimmers a better pool. Since this is also a selection event, it is important that they compete in a better facility,” Kisero explained.
The one-day competition will begin at 10:00 a.m. and is expected to run until the afternoon, bringing together experienced masters swimmers from across the country in one of Uganda’s biggest masters swimming events of the year.
Unlike many competitive swimming events, the Uganda Aquatics Masters Swimming Gala does not require qualifying times, making it accessible to anyone aged 25 years and above who wishes and can compete; meaning they can ably swim 25 meters of one of the four strokes – Breaststroke, Backstroke, freestyle and Butterfly.
Masters swimming age groups begin at 25–30 years and continue in five-year increments all the way to the 96–100 years category, allowing swimmers of all experience levels to participate.
With registration still open, Uganda Aquatics is encouraging both experienced masters’ swimmers and newcomers to sign up before entries close.
“There are no qualifying times for masters,” Kisero said. “You don’t need proof of time. Just come and swim.”
The open-entry format is designed to welcome both seasoned competitors and adults starting to swim or who may be returning to the sport after several years away from competitive swimming.
Beyond providing an opportunity for participation, this year’s masters’ gala will also serve as a selection event for an upcoming Cana Zone 3 masters competition that will be hosted in Kampala this October.
At the conclusion of the gala, Uganda Aquatics plans to identify the top two swimmers in each age group, subject to final confirmation, to represent the country at the forthcoming event.
Competitors will contest only the 25-metre and 50-metre races of Breaststroke, Backstroke, freestyle, and Butterfly, a programme intentionally designed to accommodate swimmers of varying abilities.
Kisero explained that the inclusion of the 25-metre races gives beginning masters swimmers an opportunity to participate comfortably, while the 50-metre events remain the internationally recognized standard for masters competitions around the world.
The event will use traditional manual timing rather than electronic touchpads that were used during the just-concluded Uganda Aquatics Swimming Championships.
With the new date confirmed, Uganda Aquatics is looking forward to welcoming masters swimmers from across the country for a day that celebrates lifelong participation in swimming while also identifying the nation’s top performers for future international competition.