Uganda’s young shuttlers endured a challenging opening day at the All-Africa Junior (U-19) Badminton Championships 2026 at Cairo Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, October 1, with several players exiting the singles and doubles competitions despite some encouraging performances.
The Ugandan contingent featured in the Under-19 men’s and women’s singles, as well as the doubles events, with Aaron Ndawula, Ramiah Bukenya and Alana Faith Sullo among the players who recorded victories during the opening rounds.
In the men’s singles, Ndawula opened his campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ghana’s Samuel Kote Amasah. After losing the opening game 13-15, Ndawula recovered to take the second 15-13 before completing the comeback with a 15-8 win in the deciding game.
However, his run ended in the round of 16, where he lost to Jonathan Shane in straight games, 5-15, 16-18, despite pushing his opponent in the second game.
Bukenya was another Ugandan to register a victory in the women’s singles, defeating South Africa’s Melay Pretorius 15-12, 15-8 in the round of 32. Her progress, however, was halted in the round of 16 after a 10-15, 15-17 defeat to Elsa How.
Other Ugandan players had difficult starts. Benjamin Ssekanjako lost 1-2 to Algeria’s Mohamed Rayane, while Samuel Bisaso fell 0-2 to India’s Pranav Bhauge. Carton Isakye also exited in the opening round following a 9-15, 3-15 defeat to Egypt’s Karim Wael.
In the women’s singles, Uganda’s Ramiah Bukenya, Alana Faith Sullo and Claire Namirembe featured in the opening rounds, with varying results.
Sullo advanced from her opening match against Fadwa Hachem before losing to Egypt’s Fatema Rabie in the round of 16, 6-15, 4-15. Namirembe, meanwhile, suffered a 2-15, 8-15 defeat to Tiya Bhurtun, while Abigail Ndagire lost to Egypt’s Malika Mohamed, 8-15, 4-15.
Uganda also faced challenges in the doubles competitions, with its representatives unable to progress beyond the opening rounds.
In the men’s doubles, Bisaso and Isakye lost 12-15, 11-15 to Pranav Bhauge and Nyanesh Anand, while Ndawula and Ssekanjako fell 11-15, 13-15 to Egypt’s Osama Sobhy and Karim Wael.
The women’s doubles pairing of Bukenya and Thara Naguja also bowed out after a 7-15, 7-15 defeat to Egypt’s Farida Fikry and Lojaine Wasfy. Namirembe and Ndagire likewise lost to Egypt’s Nour Fikry Elt and Rahima Hussein, 10-15, 6-15.
Despite the early exits in several categories, Ndawula and Bukenya’s opening-round victories provided Uganda with some positive moments on a difficult first day.
The championships continue at Cairo Stadium, with the remaining rounds providing the young players with further opportunities to compete against their continental counterparts.