Ugandan born Ronald Lwebuga, will once again represent Sierra Leone at the World Chess Olympiad from August 1-14 in Tromso, Norway, seeking for better fortunes for himself and his West African nation.
“This year I will be representing the Sierra Leone Chess Federation once again and it will be my second time that I play at the World Chess Olympiad for my new country,” Lwebuga said in an e-mail. “The first time that I took part was in 2012 and I was abit nervous playing in my first Olympiad, but after a few games my confidence grew. “
He won four games out of ten games at the World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey in 2012.
Lwebuga moved to the West African nation in March 29th 2011 and transfered in 2012 after the Sierra Leone Chess Federation approached him to play for them.
“The Uganda Chess Federation was helpful and accepted in a letter that needed FIDE to confirm my intention to switch,” Lwebuga said. “I must say the first encounter at the Olympiad was challenging cause I couldn’t concentrate well cause our team lost luggage while in transit and also it being my first time to play on the world stage like this.”
Lwebuga is rated 1782 by the world chess governing body FIDE and in his debut missed becoming a Candidate Master, but his goal in this year is to steer his country and attain that status.
“I am looking forward to when we meet Uganda at the Olympiad am really not sure how I would react,” Lwebuga wondered. “I know the Ugandan players well and we have played on the boards before I turned for Sierra Leone.”