Uganda Open Woodball Championship – Day one

The 13th edition of the Coral Coating Uganda Open Woodball Championship is underway at the Mbale Sports Club in Eastern Uganda and has registered a successful day one, recording up to 480 players from Schools, Institutions, and Clubs.

The two-day event teed off on Saturday Morning with the Schools category and will climax on Sunday with an awarding ceremony, where winners of the Corporates, Seniors, and Senior Corporates categories will be announced.

In the Primary category, Bona Baana Association won the Boys’ Juniors with a total of 112 strokes and were flanked by Northroad Primary School (116), and Nalugala Muslim Primary School (127) as first and second runners up respectively.

Nalugala Muslim topped the order in the Girls’ Juniors after marking a team total of 133 strokes from their best performers while Northroad Primary finished second (140), followed by Shekinah Glory Christian International School with 157 strokes.

On speaking about the overwhelming turn up from the participants, the federation President Paul Mark Kayongo said it is a sign that their strategy to spread the game is a working plan.

“It gives us a lot of happiness, seeing a young sport like woodball, 13 years down the road we can see this overwhelming number.

“However, this should not be a surprise because it is within our mandate and our 10-year plan that we do regional promotion of the sport.” Kayongo said.

The championship has been hosted in different regions/districts each year with the most recent in Mukono, and it is not by surprise the 13th edition is in Mbale.

“Through this regional integration, we give opportunities to various parts of the country to know the sport, to play and also promote it. So the turn-up today is an indication that our strategy has worked, and we are motivated to work more as leaders of the sport.” He added.

In the Secondary Schools, Our Lady of Africa Namilyango SS averaged 207 strokes, to emerge victors for the Boys’ contest, with Luzira Secondary School (208), and Mengo Senior School (223) finishing second and third respectively.

Luzira Secondary School won the Girls’ Secondary School trophy with an average of 211 strokes, ahead of Mpoma School with 227, and Mengo SS with 239 strokes.

Okidi Brian from Luzira SS won the Boys’ gold by one stroke less, beating Eric Nabugere from Mengo SS, and OLAN’s Henry Kasumba who tied at 52 but a technical ruling saw the former declared first runner-up.

Luzira Secondary’s Nakaweesi Sarah and Brenda Anyimo averaged 49 from the 12 fairways played but a better score at gate four saw Nakaweesi take home the gold, and Brenda won the silver. Mpoma Schools’ Ajambo Rebecca finished third with 50 strokes to win a bronze.

Participants

Schools