Under the new national sports legal framework, the mandate for sports federations in Uganda has taken a dramatic, structural shift. To earn official recognition, a national federation must demonstrate a vibrant presence in at least 75% of all districts across the country. It is a rigorous standard that saw numerous sports bodies drop off the official register—leaving only 11 sports federations fully approved at the time of writing.

Rising to meet this challenge, the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) stands structured with 8 core regional and specialized associations: the Central, Northern, Eastern, and Western Chess Associations, alongside the Women’s Association, the Chess Academies Association, the Arbiters and Organizers Association, and the Chess Trainers Association.

With leadership teams stepping up across the board, the Eastern Region Chess Association took a bold, decisive leap forward by organizing the first Grand Prix tournament of the year—setting the benchmark for what regional decentralization in Ugandan chess should look like.

A Calm Weekend by the Source of the Nile

From July 24th to 26th, 2026, players and officials gathered at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Jinja for a serene yet fiercely competitive 3-day showdown on the shores of Lake Victoria.

Jinja City is no stranger to generating chess royalty—it is, after all, the home turf of International Master Elijah Emojong, the very first IM in East and Central Africa. Fittingly, IM Emojong returned to his roots to grace the event, battling through a master-infested field in the Open Section.

Tournament Highlights & Special Awards

The championship featured three primary categories—Open, Ladies, and Juniors—drawing top talent from across the nation and neighboring regions.

1. Open Section: The Master Claims His Crown

In a tight 6-round contest, IM Elijah Emojong (Gambit Chess Club -2026) proved why he remains a formidable force in East African chess. Emerging undefeated with 5.5 / 6 points, Elijah took home the top prize of UGX 2,500,000.

He was closely trailed by Joshua Jordan Mulondo, Norman Magino, Alvin Muhirwa (KTCA), and Kachuol Jok Kachuol (UBC-Health Chess Club), who all finished on 5 points in a high-caliber field featuring candidate masters and top club players.

+-----+-----------------------+--------------------------+--------+
| Rk. | Name                  | Club/City                | Points |
+-----+-----------------------+--------------------------+--------+
|  1  | IM Emojong, Elijah    | Kireka Chess Club        |  5.5   |
|  2  | Mulondo, Joshua Jordan| Makerere University              |  5.0   |
|  3  | Magino, Norman        | Independent              |  5.0   |
|  4  | Muhirwa, Alvin (U16)  | KTCA                     |  5.0   |
|  5  | Kachuol, Kachuol Jok  | UBC-Health Chess Club    |  5.0   |
+-----+-----------------------+--------------------------+--------+

2. Veterans & Giant Killers Honored

A highlight of the event was the celebration of experience and underdog triumphs:

• Veteran Excellence (50+ Category): Long-time Jinja veteran Mr. Obita Francis earned the coveted 50+ Prize, demonstrating that tactical sharp mind and endgame technique only grow richer with age.
• Giant Killers Bounty: To reward fearless tactical play, a special bounty of UGX 50,000 each was awarded to the 4 players, Musasizi, Baguma, Sana, and Mulondo, who pulled off massive upsets by taking down the top seeds of the tournament, FM Haruna Nsubuga and FM Harold Wanyama. The reward came from Isaac Munanira.

3. Ladies Section: WCM Asaba Juliet Asserts Dominance

The Ladies Section delivered sharp, tactical battles throughout the six rounds. WCM Juliet Asaba (KTCA) delivered a commanding performance to capture 1st place with 5.0 / 6 points.

She edged out stiff competition from her KTCA teammate Olivia Asiimwe and WCM Shakira Ampaire, both finishing closely behind at 4.5 points, alongside rising talent Suhana Anil Yadav of Shree Sahajanand School.

+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+
| Rk. | Name                   | Club/City                | Points |
+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+
|  1  | WCM Asaba, Juliet      | KTCA                     |  5.0   |
|  2  | Asiimwe, Olivia        | KTCA                     |  4.5   |
|  3  | WCM Ampaire, Shakira   | Independent              |  4.5   |
|  4  | Suhana, Anil Yadav     | Shree Sahajanand School  |  4.5   |
|  5  | Naisanga, Sheba V.     | Mulago Kings Chess Club  |  4.0   |
+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+

4. Junior Section: Kiira College Butiiki Sweeps the Board

The Junior category saw an extraordinary display of school pride and dominance by Kiira College Butiiki, whose players swept five of the top six spots! Joshua Waiswa took 1st place on tiebreaks with 5.5 / 6 points, sharing the top score with schoolmate Joshua Swilikey Kiprop.

+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+
| Rk. | Name                   | Institution / Club       | Points |
+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+
|  1  | Waiswa, Joshua (U20)   | Kira College Butiiki    |  5.5   |
|  2  | Kiprop, Joshua S. (U20)| Kira College Butiiki    |  5.5   |
|  3  | Kasujja, Nasif (U20)   | Kira College Butiiki    |  5.0   |
|  4  | Wamimbi, Philemon(U18) | Kira College Butiiki    |  5.0   |
|  5  | AFM Hathi, Yug (U10)   | Independent              |  5.0   |
+-----+------------------------+--------------------------+--------+

Empowering Officials: The Arbiters’ Seminar

Grassroots growth requires strong officiating. Side-by-side with the tournament, an official Arbiters’ Seminar was conducted, complete with rigorous examinations for aspiring arbiters.

Organized and led by the NALCO association & ran by International Arbiters IA Kimera Innocent and IA Vicky Nakirya, the seminar equips the region with qualified arbiters capable of running FIDE-rated events to national standard.

Dignitaries, Leadership & Partners

The event’s success was anchored by strong institutional leadership and generous corporate and community backing.

Notable Figures Present:

• Mande Benjamin, Vice President of the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF)
• Abbey Mawerere, President of the Eastern Region Chess Association, alongside his Executive Committee
• Isaac Munanira, Patron of Gambit Chess Club (Yours Truly)
• The Headmistress of Wanyange Girls School
• Dr. Opul David Dickson of UBC Health

Sponsors and Partners: This landmark event was made possible through the dynamic collaboration of:

• Eastern Region Chess Association
• Uganda Chess Federation (UCF)
• Royal Retreat Homes
• Gambit Chess Club
• Source of the Nile Hotel
• Bani Chess
• Money Engineer

This 3-day gathering at the edge of the Nile was more than just a tournament—it was a bold statement that chess in Uganda is moving to every corner of the country. Eastern Uganda has set a high bar for the remaining regional associations to follow!

These were the moments in color …

Some of the remarkable games to remember ….

See you soon ..

By Isaac Munanira

Photo Credit: Ivan Mukuye