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Tracy Naluwooza will captain Uganda at the 2026 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships scheduled for February 9–15 in Gaborone, Botswana. The experienced shuttler leads a 12-member Ugandan delegation officially flagged off by the Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) in conjunction with the National Council of Sports (NCS).
Uganda will field 10 players five men and five women competing in both singles and doubles events. Naluwooza described her appointment as a proud milestone, calling it her first time to captain a national team and vowing that the squad is ready to compete and represent the country with pride.
The flag-off ceremony was officiated by NCS Assistant General Secretary Milton Chebet, alongside Senior Sports Officer Sarah Nankya and NCS liaison officer for badminton James Kasumba. Chebet urged the players to embrace discipline, hard work, and patriotism as they compete on the continental stage.
The squad blends experience and youth following changes from last year’s team in Douala, Cameroon. Former captain Amos Muyanja and Augustus Owiny have retired, Kenneth Comfort Mwambu did not qualify, while women’s star Husinah Kobugabe misses out through injury. Debutants Kuruthum Nalumansi and Nakajja Olivia have been called up, with Nalumansi partnering Shamika Fadilah Mohammad Rafi in women’s doubles.
There is optimism around the men’s team, particularly young talents Arafat Kibirige Tendo, Akbar Oduka, and Denis Mukasa, all former World Junior Championship participants. Uganda also carries confidence from the previous edition, where Naluwooza and Fadilah won bronze in women’s doubles, and Fadilah added a bronze in women’s singles.
Seventeen countries will compete, with the best men’s and women’s teams qualifying for the 2026 BWF Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Denmark. Uganda travels on Sunday aboard Ethiopian Airlines under head coach Frank Muwuluzi.
Uganda Squad
Men:
Arafat Kibirige Tendo
Akbar Oduka
Lubega Muzafaru
Denis Mukasa
Reagan Michael Nsubuga
Women:
Gladys Mbabazi
Tracy Naluwooza (Captain)
Shamika Fadilah Mohammad Rafi
Kuruthum Nalumansi
Nakajja Olivia
Officials:
Coach: Frank MuwuluziMedia Officer: Gonzaga Kakeeto
