Overview:
Uganda is putting final preparations in place to host the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships from October 21–25, 2026, at Kampala International School of Uganda (KISU), with the competition set to feature swimming, open water swimming and water polo.
Over the weekend, Uganda Aquatics provided an update on preparations for the forthcoming Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships, with President Moses Mwase and Meet Coordinator Eric Kisero outlining the country’s readiness to welcome athletes from across the region.
The championships, which will run from October 21 to 25, will bring together athletes from several countries in a competition that forms part of Uganda’s broader efforts to develop aquatic sports beyond traditional pool swimming.
The swimming competition will take place at KISU in Kabira from October 21 to 24 before the programme moves to open water swimming and water polo. The inclusion of the three disciplines reflects Uganda Aquatics’ ambition to expand opportunities for athletes and promote the development of different aquatic sports.
According to Mwase, the organising committee has been working across several areas, including marketing, medical services, transportation, accommodation and Team Uganda preparations, to ensure the successful delivery of the championships.
The event is expected to attract athletes from approximately 11 countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan and Ethiopia. Seven countries had confirmed their participation at the time of the update, with organisers anticipating further entries, particularly from Southern Africa.
However, the timing of the championships could affect participation from some countries in Zone IV, which had recently concluded its own competition in Botswana.
As hosts, Uganda will field two swimming teams, Team A and Team B, allowing more local athletes to compete against regional opposition.
Kisero revealed that Uganda had selected 89 swimmers for the championships, alongside 22 water polo players who will compete in the junior and senior categories.
The swimming competition will feature age groups ranging from under-12 to 17 and over, while water polo will have under-16 and 17-and-over categories. Both boys and girls will participate in the water polo competition as part of Uganda’s development programme.
Team Uganda has already embarked on preparations, with athletes attending an ongoing training camp. At the time of the update, the team had completed three of its six scheduled training days, with approximately 80 per cent of the selected athletes in attendance.
The remaining swimmers, including those currently outside the country, are expected to join the team ahead of the championships.
Uganda will also be seeking to maintain its position as defending champions, having won the competition in Nairobi, Bujumbura and Kigali in the previous three editions.
One of the significant additions to this year’s championships is open water swimming, which Uganda will host for the first time.
The national open water championships, scheduled for October 10 at Entebbe Sailing Club, will serve as a test event ahead of the regional competition. The event will allow organisers to assess the venue, test the arrangements and address any logistical challenges before the arrival of international teams.
The Zone III open water competition will feature three distances. Swimmers aged 15 and under will compete over 3 kilometres, while those aged 16 and above will take on the 5-kilometre race. Masters swimmers, aged 25 and above, will compete over 1.5 kilometres.
A mixed relay will also feature, with each team comprising two men and two women, each swimming 1,500 metres.
Kisero noted that preparations for open water swimming require particular attention to safety and infrastructure. Organisers are working to ensure the competition course is secure and that the necessary facilities, including a floating pontoon, are in place.
The introduction of open water swimming is part of Uganda Aquatics’ wider strategy to develop other disciplines recognised under aquatics, with ambitions to introduce additional events such as diving and artistic swimming in the future.
Water polo will also feature in the championships, with Uganda fielding junior and senior teams in a mixed competition involving both boys and girls.
The competition will follow a points-based format, with the final structure dependent on the number of participating countries.
The inclusion of water polo alongside swimming and open water swimming provides another opportunity for Uganda and other participating nations to develop their aquatic programmes.
With the championships approaching, the Local Organising Committee, chaired by Mary-Anne Isabirye, has been coordinating preparations across various departments to ensure that the event runs smoothly.
Athletes and officials participating in the championships will be accommodated at Speke Resort Munyonyo. The accommodation arrangements form part of the broader logistical preparations being coordinated by the organising committee.
Uganda Aquatics is also working with several corporate partners and government institutions to support the championships. Uganda Development Bank has expressed interest in supporting the event, while Uganda Airlines will serve as the official carrier. Tororo Cement, Plascon and Aquafina have also agreed to work with the organisers.
Government support, particularly in security and other logistical areas, is also expected to contribute to the successful hosting of the championships.
Mwase expressed optimism about the preparations, noting that the organising committee was working with different stakeholders to ensure that all necessary arrangements are completed in time.
Beyond the competition itself, the Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships provide Uganda with an opportunity to strengthen its position as a regional host for aquatic sports while offering local athletes valuable international exposure.
With preparations progressing and several countries already confirming participation, Uganda Aquatics is working towards delivering five days of competition that will bring together athletes from across the region and support the continued development of aquatic sports in Africa.