The curtains came down on Team Uganda’s swimming campaign at the Commonwealth Games with a day defined not only by results, but by progress, resilience and signs of an exciting future.
From another impressive performance by para-swimmer Husnah Kukundakwe, to an encouraging Commonwealth Games debut for Condoleeza Nyamisanga Nakazibwe and a record-breaking relay effort from the men’s team, Uganda concluded the competition with plenty of positives to build on.
The final day once again showcased the growing depth of Ugandan swimming, particularly in the para-swimming program, where the nation’s athletes continued to demonstrate that they can compete among the world’s very best.
Husnah Kukundakwe, Uganda’s trailblazing para-swimmer, continued her remarkable Commonwealth Games campaign by reaching yet another final in the Women’s 100m Freestyle. Swimming in Heat One, the S8 athlete clocked 1:15.70 to comfortably book her place in the championship final, once again proving her consistency on the international stage.
In the evening final, Kukundakwe improved her performance even further, touching the wall in 1:13.36. Although the time was not enough to secure another medal, it marked another strong showing from the Ugandan star, who remained competitive throughout the championships against a stacked international field.
After already making history earlier in the Games, reaching another final highlighted her consistency and reaffirmed her status as one of Africa’s leading para-swimmers. Missing out on the podium did little to diminish what has been another successful international campaign, with multiple finals appearances and performances that continue to inspire the next generation of Ugandan athletes.
Another major highlight for Team Uganda came through Condoleeza Nyamisanga Nakazibwe, who made her Commonwealth Games debut with an encouraging performance in the Women’s 100m Freestyle.
Competing in Heat Two, Nakazibwe posted a time of 1:18.45, continuing an encouraging upward trajectory in her performances since making her breakthrough on the international stage. Although she did not advance to the final, the race represented another important milestone in her rapidly developing career.
Her Commonwealth performance adds to a year of significant growth. At the 2025 World Para Swimming Championships in Singapore, Nakazibwe recorded a personal best of 1:11.76 in the Women’s 100m Freestyle, establishing herself as one of Uganda’s brightest emerging para-swimming talents. While her Commonwealth Games time was slower than her Singapore benchmark, it continued the steady improvement she has shown from earlier competitions and provided invaluable experience competing against one of the strongest para-swimming fields in the world.
For a swimmer still making her way onto the biggest international stages, the experience gained in Glasgow is expected to be instrumental as she continues her development ahead of future continental and global competitions.
Uganda’s men’s 4x100m Medley Relay team also delivered one of the standout performances of the day, producing a new national record despite narrowly missing qualification for the final.
The quartet of Tendo Kaumi, Jordan Ssamula, Jesse Ssengonzi and Tendo Mukalazi combined for a time of 3:52.02, finishing just outside the qualification places in the reserve position.
While the final remained just out of reach, the performance demonstrated the steady progress Uganda’s men’s swimming program has made over recent years. More importantly, the team rewrote the national record, providing another indication that the country’s relay program is moving in the right direction.
Each swimmer made a significant contribution to the record-breaking swim:
- Backstroke: Tendo Kaumi – 57.27
- Breaststroke: Jordan Ssamula – 1:08.35
- Butterfly: Jesse Ssengonzi – 54.22
- Freestyle: Tendo Mukalazi – 52.18
Although Team Uganda’s swimmers leave the Commonwealth Games without adding another medal on the final day, the campaign can be viewed as one of meaningful progress.
Husnah Kukundakwe once again demonstrated why she remains among the continent’s elite para-swimmers through another finals appearance. Condoleeza Nyamisanga Nakazibwe announced herself on the Commonwealth stage with a confident debut that promises much for the future. Meanwhile, the men’s relay team showed that Uganda’s able-bodied swimming program continues to close the gap on the world’s leading nations, setting a new national record in the process.