Team Uganda Athletes Show Determination Across Four Sports at Dakar 2026.
Team Uganda continued its campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Sunday, with athletes competing in swimming, rowing, badminton and table tennis.
The day featured improved performances, spirited contests and valuable learning experiences as Uganda’s young athletes took on competitors from across the world.
Suubi makes swimming debut
Swimmer Peyton Mary Suubi opened her Youth Olympic Games campaign in the Girls’ 400m Freestyle, recording a time of 4:52.59.
Suubi demonstrated determination throughout the race, recording the fastest reaction time in her heat at 0.61 seconds. She also produced a strong finish, increasing her pace over the final 100 metres and recording 34.81 seconds in her last 50 metres.
Although she felt she could have started better, Suubi was pleased with how she finished the race. She is scheduled to return to the pool on November 3 for the Girls’ 100m Breaststroke.
Otim improves in second rowing time trial
In coastal beach sprint rowing, Marcel Andrew Otim recorded a significant improvement in his second Men’s Solo Time Trial at Saly Beach West.
The Ugandan clocked 3:04.97, improving by 19 seconds on his opening time of 3:24.00. His beach run took 11.00 seconds, while he completed the rowing section in 2:54.86.
Otim finished 24th in the second time trial, outside the top eight who progressed to the last 16, and registered an overall 32nd-place finish.
The improvement followed a challenging opening race on Saturday, when he had to contend with strong currents and choppy water conditions.
Bukenya makes Olympic badminton debut
Badminton player Ramiah Bukenya also made her Youth Olympic Games debut at Dakar Arena, where she faced fourth seed Micah Cruz of the United States in the Women’s Singles Group Play.
Cruz won the encounter 21-1, 21-5 in 20 minutes. However, Bukenya showed progress in the second game, scoring five points and engaging her opponent in longer rallies.
The longest rally lasted 35 seconds and featured 27 shots, offering a glimpse of Bukenya’s ability to sustain exchanges against a highly seeded opponent.
The experience will provide valuable lessons as she prepares for her next match against Rajvi Parab on Monday.
Sebatindira and Nakawala put up spirited table tennis displays
Uganda’s young table tennis players, Joseph Sebatindira and Jemimah Nakawala, showed resilience in their singles matches at the Dakar Expo Center.
Both athletes faced Polish opponents and managed to claim a game each, although they eventually lost 3-1.
Sebatindira, aged 11 and the youngest athlete at the Games, faced Patryk Zyworonek. After losing the opening two games 11-4 and 11-7, he responded with an 11-6 victory in the third game. However, Zyworonek secured the match with an 11-4 win in the fourth.
Nakawala, 16, also put up a determined performance against Katarzyna Rajkowska. After dropping the first game 11-5, she fought back to take a closely contested second game 12-10 after deuce, levelling the match. Rajkowska went on to win the next two games to claim a 3-1 victory.
Nakawala’s match also featured an exciting 15-shot rally, highlighting the competitive spirit displayed by the Ugandan.
Looking ahead
Sunday’s competitions offered Team Uganda another opportunity to test its preparation, build confidence and gain experience against international opposition.
As the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games continue, Uganda’s young athletes remain focused on representing their country with commitment, courage and determination.
