For three days in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Uganda’s finest swimmers tested themselves against some of East Africa’s strongest competition.
The 2026 Kenya Aquatics National Long Course Swimming Championships at Kasarani Aquatic Complex brought together more than 80 clubs from across the region. While the competition was designed to crown Kenya’s national champions, it also served as a showcase for the rapid growth of Ugandan swimming.
From powerhouse clubs such as Dolphins Swim Club Kampala and Sailfish Swim Club Kampala to emerging programs like Aqua Akii and Blue Wave, Ugandan swimmers arrived with one mission: to challenge themselves against the best.
By the time the championships concluded, Uganda’s clubs had amassed medals, finals appearances, personal bests and invaluable international experience. More importantly, they left with renewed confidence that Ugandan swimming is steadily closing the gap on the continent’s strongest programs.
Dolphins Swim Club Kampala: The Standard Bearers
No Ugandan club made a louder statement than Dolphins Swim Club Kampala.
Against 81 competing clubs, Dolphins emerged as the overall champions of the championships, collecting an astonishing 63 medals—28 gold, 20 silver and 15 bronze. Their medal haul was the highest of any club at the meet and demonstrated remarkable depth across individual and relay events.
Coach Tony Kasujja was understandably proud.
“It’s been very competitive. There are lots of experienced swimmers and names that have been in this sport for a very long time. My swimmers are doing very well. They’ve won very many accolades, including medals and personal best times,” he said.
Dolphins’ strength stretched across all age groups; among the standout performers was Mackyala Ssali, who finished among the leading scorers in the Girls 14-15 category. Yet despite her success, she remained focused on improvement.
“I’ve performed well, but I’m not really happy with my times. I’ve been adding time in most of my events because it’s been really cold here. I’ve learnt that I need to train more and work harder. Maybe I should start doing more gym,” she said.
Young swimmer Manuel Semanda viewed the championships as a learning opportunity. “It has been a very cold pool. The races have been okay so far. I’ve been making some good and some bad times. I need to train more, eat better and fix my technique in certain strokes.”
For Theresa Kikambi, adapting to long-course racing was the major challenge. “It’s definitely been tough. I’m not used to long courses. Back in Uganda, there are only a few long-course pools. I definitely need to do more practice and get used to it.”
Sailfish Swim Club Kampala: Consistency and Depth
If Dolphins were the headline act, Sailfish Swim Club Kampala once again proved why they remain one of East Africa’s most respected clubs.
The club finished second overall in the medal standings among all participating teams, winning 42 medals comprising 19 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze.
Their relay strength was particularly impressive, accounting for 23 of those medals.
Karen Mwangi highlighted one of the biggest benefits of competing at Kasarani. “The experience has been wonderful, challenging and hard because the pool is quite cold. We’re not used to the temperature.” Yet she emphasized how the championship structure helps athletes grow. “It gives us a chance to swim preliminaries and finals. If you don’t do your best in the morning and qualify for finals, you get another chance to improve.”
Young swimmer Seth Kabogoza was equally enthusiastic. “I’ve had a good experience at Kasarani. Swimming in a long-course pool feels challenging and fun at the same time. It’s good because we get to swim with people from other countries.”
Otters Swim Club Uganda: Quiet Excellence
Otters Swim Club Uganda may not have matched the medal totals of Dolphins or Sailfish, but their impact was significant.
The club secured eight medals overall, including two gold, three silver and three bronze medals. Otters swimmers continued to show their ability to compete with some of the strongest programs in East Africa.
The club’s performances reinforced its reputation as one of Uganda’s most consistent developmental programs, producing technically sound swimmers capable of competing at the regional level.
Their results also underline the increasing competitiveness of Ugandan swimming beyond the country’s traditional powerhouse clubs.
Gators Swim Club Kampala: Building Momentum
Gators Swim Club Kampala continued its rise as a serious regional contender. Though the club did not defend the title. The club accumulated an impressive 29 medals, including five gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals. Their success came largely from depth rather than dependence on a single star swimmer. Several Gators athletes reached finals and podium positions, showcasing the club’s growing strength across multiple age categories.
Imara Aquatics Sports Club: Focused on Development
For Imara Aquatics Sports Club, success has always been measured differently. The head Coach Ezra made that philosophy clear. “My goal is to never look at winning a championship. I don’t look at winning a championship. I look at getting better and making sure the swimmers perform at their best.”
Those principles produced strong results. Imara finished with 15 medals overall, collecting four gold, 10 silver and one bronze. Veteran swimmer Karla Mugisha emerged as one of the team’s standout performers. “The last time I swam in a long-course pool was about three or four years ago. So, it has been a lovely experience.” Mugisha reached multiple finals and earned medals during the championships. “I did extremely well in the 50 back, the 50 breast and the IM. The 50m fly disappointed me because I didn’t make the time I hoped for.”
Yet her biggest lesson reflected the mindset of elite athletes.“Competition is basically a continuation of training. It’s a chance to show that I’ve been working hard.”
Young swimmer Victoria Saka also flourished in the challenging environment. “I think it’s been a very exciting experience. It’s been really cold, and I’ve had to adapt. But overall, I made PBs in most of my races.”
The experience expanded Saka’s perspective. “I’ve learned that there’s more outside Uganda. We need to train harder because this has shown me that we need to work harder.” Her words perhaps summarize the broader significance of the championships for Ugandan swimming.
Aqua Akii and Blue Wave: Emerging Forces
While not among the largest delegations, both Aqua Akii and Blue Wave represented the next generation of Ugandan swimming development. Regional championships like the Kenya Nationals provide these clubs with invaluable opportunities to expose young swimmers to higher standards of competition.
The Long-Course Challenge
One theme emerged repeatedly from nearly every Ugandan athlete interviewed: adaptation.
For many swimmers, the biggest opponent was not another athlete but the environment itself. The cold water, unfamiliar conditions and demands of long-course racing created significant challenges.
Unlike Kenya and South Africa, Uganda has limited access to long-course training facilities. As a result, many swimmers spend most of their season training and racing in short-course pools.
The Kenya Nationals therefore provide something invaluable exposure. Coach Tony Kasujja, who is also the VP Technical at Uganda Aquatics, described it as an essential part of preparing for Uganda’s upcoming national championships. “We believe that once we take that experience, the vigour, energy, resilience and power into the short course, we’ll have very good performances.”
Coach Ezra from Imara shared a similar view: “These athletes get to race long course, which doesn’t happen in Uganda. They meet new competitors and gain confidence that they can go anywhere and still perform.”
More Than Medals
The true success of Uganda’s clubs at Kasarani cannot be measured solely by podium finishes. It can be seen in young swimmers learning to manage nerves in finals; In athletes discovering the importance of nutrition and recovery; In coaches gaining insights into event selection and race management; in swimmers realizing that excellence requires continuous improvement.
Across Dolphins Swim Club Kampala, Sailfish Swim Club Kampala, Otters Swim Club Uganda, Gators Swim Club Kampala, Imara Aquatics Sports Club, Aqua Akii, Blue Wave, and Torpedo, a common message emerged.
Ugandan swimming is growing, the talent is real, and the ambition is evident; and if the performances at the 2026 Kenya Aquatics National Championships are any indication, the future of Ugandan swimming has never looked brighter.
As Ugandan clubs continue to raise their standards, competition between clubs like Dolphins, Sailfish, Gators and Imara is helping elevate the entire sport.