Formidables Swim Club turned its latest victory into an evening of recognition and celebration, honouring the people whose commitment has helped drive the club’s rise in Uganda’s masters swimming scene.
At the victory dinner, Brenda Byamugisha was named the club’s Most Improved Female Swimmer, while Wesley Sangomu was recognised as the Most Improved Male Swimmer. The club also honoured members of its coaching and support team, with Coach Kitumba, Louis Walinga and Henry Kakooza receiving recognition for their contribution to the swimmers’ development and the club’s growing competitive standards.
The club’s sponsors and partners were also recognised, including Waves Fitness Hub and Crown Beverages, alongside other supporters such as GAF Engineering and Trend Sports and many others.
The awards came after another commanding performance by Formidables at the 11th Uganda Aquatics Masters Swimming Gala, held on July 18, 2026.
Formidables emerged as overall champions after producing a deep and consistent team performance across the programme. Rather than relying on one or two standout swimmers, the club collected strong results across multiple age categories and disciplines, with swimmers regularly finishing on the podium.
Among the notable performances were Joel Mayengo, who won the men’s 25–29 25m breaststroke in 15.55 seconds; Benjamin Musaazi, who topped the men’s 30–34 breaststroke in 17.13 seconds; and Yawe Habib, who won the men’s 35–39 25m butterfly in 15.20 seconds. Gilbert Kaburu was another standout, winning the 40–44 25m butterfly in 14.23 seconds.
The older age groups were equally important to the club’s success. Patrick Magezi won the men’s 55–59 25m butterfly in 21.49 seconds, while Peter Mugisha topped the men’s 60-and-over category in the same event. Club Captain Peter Ssebanakitta also produced a winning performance in the 60-and-over 25m breaststroke.
Formidables also showed their strength in the relays. The club won the men’s 100m medley relay in 1:00.50, ahead of Makerere University Swim Team, while its women’s team finished second in the corresponding event. The men’s freestyle relay was another Formidables victory, completed in 53.82 seconds.
The breadth of the results reflected the depth of the club. Formidables had swimmers competing across age groups from their 20s through the 60-and-over category, with strong representation in breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, freestyle, medley and relay events.
For club chairman Donald Rukare, however, the meaning of masters swimming goes beyond medals and championships.
“The idea about masters swimming is not these things. These are just the icing on the cake. It’s about swimming for friendship. Swimming for life. Swimming for health.”
Rukare credited the people within the club for its transformation from a recreational group into a competitive and closely connected swimming community. He also praised the coaches and the club’s wider support network, while emphasising that the club’s future should be built around friendship, health, competition and continued growth.
Club captain Peter Ssebanakitta described the latest success as another chapter in a remarkable journey.
He said Formidables had grown from a small recreational swimming group into what he described as “Uganda’s leading masters swimming club,” adding that the club now contributes the largest number of swimmers to Uganda’s national mastersteam and has represented Uganda at regional Africa Aquatics Zone Three competitions.
Ssebanakitta also highlighted the significance of the club’s 2026 achievements, noting that Formidables had successfully defended its title at the Formidables Masters Gala in May before going on to win the Uganda Aquatics National Masters Championships.
“These victories are the result of teamwork, discipline, input from our coaches and commitment from every member,” he said.
The captain’s message was as much about the future as it was about celebrating the present. Formidables is already looking towards the 2026 Cana Zone 3 competitions and the 2027 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Budapest, with ambitions of sending a bigger team and competing for medals.
The victory dinner therefore served as more than a celebration of another trophy. It was a reminder of how far Formidables has travelled from friends swimming together for recreation to a club capable of dominating the national master’s scene.
As Rukare put it, the medals may be the icing on the cake, but the real strength of Formidables lies in the people who make up the club.