Brian Magoba discovered that swimming in a lake is a different challenge altogether when he took on his first open-water competition at the inaugural Uganda National Open Water Championships at Entebbe Sailing Club on Lake Victoria on October 10, 2026.
The Makerere University swimmer finished fifth in the men’s 5km race for swimmers aged 16 and over, clocking 1:10:31.87 to earn 14 points. While he missed out on the podium, Magoba left the water with something valuable: the confidence that he could conquer a challenge outside his usual swimming environment.
For a swimmer accustomed to the clear water, lane markings and familiar walls of a swimming pool, Lake Victoria presented a different test one that demanded endurance, concentration, navigation and, above all, mental strength.
The thought of swimming in a lake for the first time was exciting, but it also came with its fair share of nerves. Magoba admitted that taking the plunge was not an easy decision, particularly because swimmers are accustomed to the controlled environment of a pool. The lake, on the other hand, comes with uncertainties, including what lies beneath the surface.
“There is this thing of the lake being a habitat for very many marine animals: the Nile perch, crocodiles and hippos,” he explained, reflecting on what was going through his mind before entering the water.
Fortunately, the conditions were favourable on race day. The water was calm, and the course was clearly marked, allowing swimmers to complete their respective distances.
For Magoba, the experience turned out to be both enjoyable and challenging, proving that sometimes the hardest part of a new adventure is simply taking the first step.
The 5km race was not just about how fast Magoba could swim. It was also about how long he could keep pushing when his body began to tire.
He recalled that the first two laps felt manageable, but the third lap brought a different level of difficulty. With fatigue setting in and no opportunity to stop at a pool wall to recover, the challenge became increasingly mental.
“The third one was more of a mental game because the body is tired, and you don’t have anywhere to refill from. It’s a 5K distance, so refill stations were not there,” he said.
Unlike pool swimming, where athletes can use the lane markings to guide their direction and touch the wall at the end of each length, open-water swimmers must constantly assess where they are going.
For Magoba, learning to sight, lifting his head periodically to locate the course markers and maintain direction, was essential.
He explained that following another swimmer blindly could easily lead to trouble if that swimmer went off course. Correcting the mistake could cost valuable time and energy.
“You need to be good at sighting. You need to be good at enduring,” he said, describing two of the most important skills he discovered during the race.
The water itself also took some getting used to. Accustomed to the clean, clear water of a swimming pool, Magoba found the lake water unfamiliar and described it as itchy, while the depth and limited visibility added to the experience. Nevertheless, he kept his direction and continued swimming.
Every race has a moment that stays with an athlete long after crossing the finish line. For Magoba, it was not a spectacular sprint or an overtaking manoeuvre. It was simply the moment he realised he had finished the race.
With cut-off times to beat and fatigue building, completing the 5km became an achievement in itself. He recalls noticing a fellow swimmer switching to breaststroke while he continued using freestyle. The sight briefly caught his attention, but rather than allowing himself to become distracted, Magoba stayed focused on his own race.
“I can’t forget that I was able to finish,” he said, emphasising how much the achievement meant to him.
That determination was particularly important during the final stages, when the physical challenge could easily have become overwhelming.
His fifth-place finish in a field of seven classified competitors in the men’s 16-and-over 5km category was a respectable first outing, especially considering that he was navigating a completely different swimming environment for the first time.
Beyond the position and finishing time, the championship gave Magoba a fresh understanding of what it takes to become a better swimmer. He came away appreciating the importance of discipline, following instructions and remaining focused throughout a race. He also learnt that open-water swimming requires swimmers to make constant decisions while managing their energy over a long distance.
For him, the experience reinforced the value of consistency and the need to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them. “Open water needs you to decide, ‘Am I going or not?’ because it’s a dare-do attempt,” he said.
It is a mindset that could prove useful as he continues developing as a swimmer. Completing the race showed him that, even in an unfamiliar environment, preparation, determination and the willingness to keep going can make a difference. His experience also highlighted why open-water swimming requires more than the endurance developed in a pool. Athletes must learn to navigate without lane markings, adapt to changing surroundings and maintain their composure when the race becomes uncomfortable.
If anyone thought finishing his first 5km open-water race would be enough to satisfy Magoba’s curiosity, they may have underestimated his appetite for a challenge.
The Makerere swimmer is already looking towards his next test, and it is twice the distance.
Asked whether he would compete again and consider a longer race, his answer was immediate.
“Yes, 5K. I have that mentality of keeping up and doing dares. We did five kilometres on Saturday, but I also want to try 10 kilometres,” he revealed.
He hopes to return for the second edition of the national championships, with the ambition of making it a breakthrough outing. Having discovered what it takes to complete 5km in open water, Magoba now has a clearer picture of the skills he needs to develop before attempting the longer distance.
The 10km challenge will demand even greater endurance, pacing and concentration, but his first race has given him a starting point.
Magoba’s experience formed part of the wider story of Uganda’s first National Open Water Championships. The October event brought together age-group swimmers and masters competitors across different distances, including 3km, 5km and 1.5km races.