On 22 August, the Uganda Rowing Community and The North Green School collaborated to run a beach sprint demonstration during the Buganda Royal Regatta. By hosting the event during this long-running celebration of traditional paddling boats on Lake Victoria, the organizers ensured high attendance and the ability to bring beach sprint to new audiences. More than 2,000 fans were present, making it the highest attended event in Ugandan rowing history.
As an invitational event, the focus was perhaps more on introducing new people to the sport rather than the competition itself. There were only two disciplines, the senior men’s solo and the junior women’s solo, and there was only one woman competing, Grace Kyomuhendo. But national coach Batenga Nakisozi’s real dream is that after the success of this year, the concept can be expanded for 2027.
A key goal for World Rowing in the development of beach sprint rowing and support of coastal rowing in general has been to expand the sport away from its traditional bases and find new audiences and new athletes across the world. Uganda has only had one Olympian so far in rowing: Kathleen Grace Noble, who raced in the women’s single at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
But the fact that beach sprint’s Olympic debut will take place in Africa at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games coupled with the boost of demonstrating the sport in front of thousands of spectators perhaps may help change that.
The podiums from the Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational were:
CM1x:
- Elijah Namunyu – Maroons Aqua
- Joshua Masola – Kampala Rowing Club
- Derrick Muhindo – Kampala Rowing Club
U19 CW1x:
- Grace Kyomuhendo – UPDF Rowing Club