Historic Beach Sprint Event Brings Rowing to 2,000 Spectators
Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational 2026 Presented by The North Green School | 22 August 2026 | Bunjako Beach, Mpigi District
Uganda Rowing made history on 22 August 2026, staging the Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational at Bunjako Beach in Mpigi District. The event brought together elite rowers from across Uganda’s competitive rowing clubs for a day of thrilling Beach Sprint competition, witnessed by more than 2,000 spectators—the largest audience for a rowing competition in Uganda to date.
Held as part of the Buganda Royal Regatta Finals and presented by The North Green School (TNGS), the Invitational showcased the speed and spectator appeal of Beach Sprint rowing to a wider public audience. Athletes represented four active rowing clubs—Maroons Aqua Sports Club, Kampala Rowing Club, Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club, and UPDF Rowing Club—competing across two categories:
- CM1x (Coastal Men’s Solo)
- CJW1x (Coastal Junior Women’s Solo)
The event provided an important domestic competition opportunity for athletes while demonstrating Uganda’s growing capacity to deliver world-class rowing competition at home.
Men’s Competition: Namunyu Sets New Personal Best
The CM1x final saw an impressive display of Beach Sprint racing, with nine competitors battling across time trials, semi-finals, and finals.
Elijah Namunyu of Maroons Aqua Sports Club delivered a commanding performance, winning gold with a time of 2:32.31 in the final—a new personal best. Namunyu’s progression throughout the day was exceptional:
- Time trial: 2:59.41
- Semi-final: 2:48.03
- Final: 2:32.31 (decisive finish)
Joshua Masola of Kampala Rowing Club claimed silver with a final time of 2:47.50, demonstrating strong technique and consistency across the rounds:
- Time trial: 3:36.31
- Semi-final: 3:04.60
Derrick Muhindo, also from Kampala Rowing Club, secured bronze with times of:
- Time trial: 3:23.62
- Semi-final: 3:06.15
Full CM1x Results
| Position | Athlete | Club | Time Trial | Semi-Final | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Gold | Elijah Namunyu | Maroons Aqua Sports Club | 2:59.41 | 2:48.03 | 2:32.31 |
| 🥈 Silver | Joshua Masola | Kampala Rowing Club | 3:36.31 | 3:04.60 | 2:47.50 |
| 🥉 Bronze | Derrick Muhindo | Kampala Rowing Club | 3:23.62 | 3:06.15 | — |
| 4th | Juma Kasirye | Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club | 3:47.63 | 3:26.22 | — |
| 5th | Kato Mbabazi | Kampala Rowing Club | 3:48.66 | — | — |
| 6th | Trevor Mbojah | Kampala Rowing Club | 3:57.34 | — | — |
| 7th | Bosco Zziwa | UPDF Rowing Club | 3:49.47 | — | — |
| 8th | Osbert Ssebagala | Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club | 4:10.24 | — | — |
| 9th | Lutwama Raymond | Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club | 4:32.12 | — | — |
Junior Women’s Competition: Kyomuhendo Gains Experience
Grace Kyomuhendo (14 years old) of UPDF Rowing Club represented Uganda’s junior and female athlete development pathway. Competing in the CJW1x category, she completed the time trial with a time of 4:15.9 alongside the CM1x field. Her participation in the Invitational provided valuable competitive experience and reflected Uganda Rowing’s continued commitment to developing opportunities for junior and female athletes.
Building Technical Capacity Through Coaching Excellence
The Invitational showcased Uganda Rowing’s investment in coach development and athlete support. Athletes were supported by experienced club coaches who have themselves undergone advanced training:
Club Coaches:
- Maroons Aqua Sports Club: Abubaker Kakule, Godfrey Chan Wengo
- Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club: Sulaiman Ssegawa
- Kampala Rowing Club: Mugisha Kwiringira
- UPDF Rowing Club: Christine Kabuwo, Bosco Zziwa
Several coaches participating in the Invitational completed the World Rowing Level 1 Development Coach Course held in Uganda in 2025, exemplifying the progression from coach education to practical athlete development and domestic competition delivery.
Dr. Gerry Noble, Vice President Technical and Operations of Uganda Rowing, played a crucial role in managing the coastal boats—carefully transporting, preparing, and ensuring equipment excellence throughout the competition. Noble himself completed the World Rowing Level 1 Development Coach Course, reinforcing Uganda Rowing’s commitment to technical excellence at all levels.
Batenga Nakisozi, National Coach and Secretary General of Uganda Rowing, oversaw the competition as Technical Chair of the Buganda Royal Regatta, providing essential coordination between Uganda Rowing and the wider Regatta programme.
Collaborative Delivery: From Boat Handlers to Athletes
The successful delivery of competitive Beach Sprint rowing required seamless collaboration across multiple organizations and roles.
Akii Rowing provided essential operational support through its dedicated boat-handling team:
- Kenneth Masaba
- Josh Mashereka
- Mugisha Ernest
- Muhoozi Dickson
This team managed boat handling, rapid equipment turnaround, and athlete transitions throughout the competition day. Working alongside Uganda Rowing and the participating clubs, this team demonstrated the growing capacity within Uganda to organize and deliver domestic Beach Sprint competition at international standards.
Partnership Creates New Audiences for Rowing
The Invitational was made possible through the sponsorship and partnership of The North Green School (TNGS). TNGS’s support enabled Uganda Rowing to deliver the competition and award cash prizes to the CM1x medalists, reflecting the school’s growing commitment to rowing development and the vital role partnerships between education and sport play in creating athletic opportunities.
The Buganda Royal Regatta provided an exceptional platform for the sport. By incorporating the Beach Sprint Invitational into the Finals at Bunjako Beach, Beach Sprint rowing was showcased to more than 2,000 spectators, many experiencing competitive rowing for the first time. This expanded audience represents a significant milestone in Uganda’s rowing journey.
The 2026 Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational exemplified a mature rowing ecosystem: active clubs competing, trained coaches supporting athletes, technical personnel delivering competition, partners investing in development, and a new, engaged audience discovering the sport.
Event Credits
National Competition Oversight
- Batenga Nakisozi – National Coach & Secretary General, Uganda Rowing; Technical Chair, Buganda Royal Regatta
Technical & Equipment Management
- Dr. Gerry Noble – Vice President Technical & Operations, Uganda Rowing
Club Coaches
- Maroons Aqua Sports Club: Abubaker Kakule, Godfrey Chan Wengo
- Kisubi Pirates Rowing Club: Sulaiman Ssegawa
- Kampala Rowing Club: Mugisha Kwiringira
- UPDF Rowing Club: Christine Kabuwo, Bosco Zziwa
Boat Handling & Operations (Akii Rowing)
- Kenneth Masaba
- Josh Mashereka
- Mugisha Ernest
- Muhoozi Dickson