Uganda Names 12 Juniors for ITF/CAT Eastern African Junior Championships 2026

By Grace Kemigisa

Uganda has selected 12 junior tennis players to form its national boys’ and girls’ teams for the 2026 ITF/CAT Eastern African Junior Individual and Team Championships. The tournament will be staged in Nairobi, Kenya, from January 14 to 22, 2026, and will bring together the region’s top emerging tennis talent.
The selected athletes are divided into four teams. The 16 & Under Boys Team comprises Samuel Okello, Sebbi Muzamil Rajab, and Cillian Asante Ndilima. Representing the 16 & Under Girls Team are Lilian Ayee, Faith Florence Aber, and Mary Tendo. The 14 & Under Boys Team includes Abbey Damba, Faraje Ali, and Daniel Ogen, while the 14 & Under Girls Team features Michelle Amito, Florence Nabulime, and Anena Angel. The teams were officially flagged off over the weekend by the Assistant General Secretary of the National Council of Sports, Milton Chebet.
Addressing the players, Chebet emphasized the importance of hard work and success on the court. He noted that media attention often follows medal success and encouraged the athletes to strive for gold to help elevate the profile of tennis in Uganda. He also reassured the players that the government is gradually working toward increasing funding for sports. Chebet further reminded the juniors of their responsibility as national ambassadors, urging them to speak positively about Uganda, love their country, and demonstrate patriotism while representing the nation abroad.
Girls Team Captain Mary Tendo echoed the team’s ambitions, stating that their objective is to reach the top, win matches, and earn opportunities to travel and represent Uganda internationally so the country can gain wider recognition.

At the 2026 championships, Uganda will be defending the Boys 14 & Under Trophy won at the 2024 Zone Championships. The country will also be seeking its first-ever titles in the 16 & Under categories.
Team Head Coach Edward Odokchen expressed strong confidence in the squad, noting that the teams are well-prepared and determined to compete for victory in Nairobi. He stressed that the defending champions in the 14 & Under category are not traveling merely to participate, but to compete seriously. Odokchen also highlighted the presence of promising young players within the teams, some of whom are being groomed for future representation at major competitions such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup. He assured stakeholders that Uganda will put up a strong and determined fight.

The junior championships are organized by the Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) in partnership with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Tennis Kenya (TK). This year’s Zone Championships are expected to feature 12 participating countries competing for qualification slots in the Africa Junior Championships as well as valuable ranking points.
The participating nations are Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Djibouti, Mauritius, Comoros, and South Sudan.
The competition will include singles and doubles events for both boys and girls. The top two teams in each category will qualify for the African Junior Teams’ Championships (AJC). In addition, the Individual Zone Championships for the 14 & Under and 16 & Under age groups will serve as an evaluation platform for selecting potential players to compete in the inaugural AJC for 14 & Under 2026 and the AJC for 16 & Under 2026.

Uganda Tennis Association Vice President Daniel Kyazze emphasized the long-term importance of the junior program, noting that the country’s future senior players will emerge from these ranks. He highlighted that these juniors are the foundation for Uganda’s representation in major competitions such as the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean Cup.
In the team events, only one team per age group and per gender will automatically qualify for the final stage of the African Junior Teams’ Championships, scheduled for May 2026 for the 14 & Under category and July 2026 for the 16 & Under category.
At the conclusion of the championships, an overall country ranking will be determined based on the total points accumulated from boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles performances.