When Team Captain Wilson Mugwanya led Uganda’s differently abled Chess Team out of the SOM Chess Academy in Katwe – Makindye today, he carried both strategy and tactical opening lines to Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He carried the national flag, high expectations, and a powerful statement that disability is never a barrier to sports excellence.
Beginning their journey on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, the team set off at midday from SOM Chess Academy, where they concluded their intensive preparations under Mugwanya’s guidance.
The squad will depart the country in the wee hours of Thursday, September 10, heading directly to the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities (PWDs), taking place from September 10 to 17 at the Silk Road International Tourism Centre.
This edition carries notable weight. For the very first time, the PWD Chess Olympiad is staged alongside the 46th Chess Olympiad. With a record field of roughly 40 countries taking part, the combined format creates an unprecedented global platform for athletes with disabilities to show their intellectual strength, determination, and competitive spirit.
After they departed from SOM Chess Academy in Katwe-Makindye, a grand send-off ceremony was hosted at the National Council of Sports (NCS) headquarters. The official flag-off brought together key leadership from the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) and sports authorities. The Deputy Secretary General of the NCS joined UCF President Andrew Bakiza and members of the Federation’s National Executive Committee to rally behind the team.
Under Mugwanya’s leadership, Uganda’s PWD Chess Olympiad Team features a talented lineup of players, including Ezekiel Masiko, Enock Seguya, Sharif Wasswa Mbaziira, and Hannah Musinguzi Nakamya. Rounding out the contingent are Augustine Etyangat and Allan Mbabani, who will compete as players while providing crucial technical support to the delegation.
SOM Chess Academy Director Robert Katende expressed absolute confidence in the squad’s capabilities, noting that their journey is a defining milestone for Uganda’s differently abled chess community. Beyond the medals and match points, their participation represents an essential step in promoting inclusion, equal opportunity, and international exposure.
The PWD team travels ahead of Uganda’s main Chess Olympiad delegation, which will depart on September 14 for their competition running from September 15 to 27. The main delegation is led by Andrew Bakiza Nkwasibwe as Head of Delegation and features a 15-member team consisting of Bob Bibasa, Emmanuel Egesa, Harold Wanyama, Juliet Asaba, Mark Wasswa Nyola, Mathias Allan Ssonko, Olivia Asiimwe, Patricia Kawuma, Patrick Kawuma, Sana Kayyar, Saritha Omprakash Kayyar, Shakira Ampaire, Sheba Valentine Naisanga, and Shriyam Kayyar.
Wilson Mugwanya and his squad prepare to face formidable opponents from around the globe; they carry with them the determination to show Uganda’s deep well of talent, prove that disability is never a barrier to athletic excellence and champion the core values of inclusion and equal opportunity on the world stage.
About the Third FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities
- Opening Ceremony: September 10
- Rounds 1–6: From September 11 to September 16.
- Final Round: September 17
- Teams: 40 national teams are competing.
- Format: A 7-round Swiss-system team tournament.
- Time Control: 90 minutes for 40 moves, plus 30 minutes, with a 30 second increment per move.
- African Representation: Uganda is one of six African federations with a team in the field.
About the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026
- Dates: September 15 (Opening Ceremony) to September 27, 2026, with the first round starting September 16.
- Location: Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- Format: 11 rounds of Swiss-system team competition. There is a rest day scheduled for September 22.
Sections: An Open section and a Women’s section. [1, 2]
- Total Teams: A record-breaking 398 teams are expected to compete, surpassing the previous record of 380 set in Budapest in 2024.
- Open Section: 208 teams representing 205 nations.
- Women’s Section: 190 teams representing 187 nations.
Concurrent Events: Samarkand will also host the 3rd Chess Paralympiad from September 10 to 18, alongside the 97th FIDE Congress from September 19 to 28.