The Rwabushenyi Memorial Open Chess Championship 2024 started on Thursday 5th December with games in the Open Category and ladies category while the junior Category was a one-day event on Saturday 7th December. It was held at Nob View Hotel Ntinda from the 5th to the 8th of December 2024 (a 4-day event). The defending champion is the chess president Eng. Mwaka Emmanuel who didn’t play in this year’s edition. The event is sponsored by the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority and the Uganda Chess Federation in memory of Cyril Rwabushenyi, who is a former UCF President (1996 – 1998) and worked as a Director with CAA.
The tournament was held in 3 categories; the Open (104 registered players), Ladies (35 registered players), and Juniors sections (55 registered players), giving an overall total of 194 chess players registered for the event across the 3 sections. This is the Chess Results page for the tournament.
| Year | Winner | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Harold Wanyama | Tournament first held. |
| 2010 | Elijah Emojong (Open) Phiona Mutesi (Ladies) | Emojong : FM Title 2011, IM in 2013 |
| 2011 | Harold Wanyama | FM Title 2012, 2nd win. |
| 2012 | - | Not held; focus on Olympiad team funding. |
| 2013 | Arthur Ssegwanyi (Open) Ivy Amoko (Ladies) | Ssegwanyi: FM 2014 and IM 2015 |
| 2014 | FM Harold Wanyama | 3rd win. |
| 2015 | IM Arthur Ssegwanyi | 2nd win. |
| 2016 | - | Not held. |
| 2017 | FM Patrick Kawuma (Open) WFM Goretti Angolikin (Ladies) | - |
| 2018 | FM Patrick Kawuma | 2nd win. |
| 2019 | IM Arthur Ssegwanyi | 3rd win. |
| 2020 | - | Not held due to Covid restrictions. |
| 2021 | FM Haruna Nsubuga | FM Haruna : 7 pts |
| 2022 | FM Harold Wanyama | 4th win. |
| 2023 | Emmanuel Mwaka (Open) WCM Ndirangu Joyce Nyaruai (Ladies) | E. Mwaka : 7pts WCM Ndirangu J : 7.5 pts |
| 2024 | IM Arthur Ssegwanyi | IM Arthur 8 pts - 4th Win WCM Kawuma Patricia 8pts |
In the Open section, the leaders were;
- IM Ssegwanyi Arthur 8 pts
- Mugagga Allan 7 pts
- FM Haruna Nsubuga 6.5 pts
- CM Egesa Emmanuel 6.5 pts
- Madol Garang Panthoum 6 pts
In the Ladies section, the leaders were;
- WCM Kawuma Patricia 8 pts
- WFM Ampaire Shakira 6 pts
- Ahereza Joan 5.5 pts
- Suhana Anil Yadav 5 pts
- Nakatudde Mackline 5 pts
The players received their prizes as indicated on the poster.
The winners of both categories achieved perfect scores of 8/8 points, showcasing exceptional skill and determination. It is also worth noticing the remarkable performance of Allan Mugagga who took down several seasoned chess masters. In this game, round 4 of the tournament, The tension mounted as Rising Star Allan Mugagga unleashed his pawn to e5. Black humbly accepted the pawn with dxe5, but he had walked into a harder position! Mugagga struck with a devastating Bc5, targeting Black’s vulnerable f2 pawn. The pressure was relentless, and Black crumbled under the assault. Allan’s victory was a testament to his skill, and he finished the tournament with a remarkable 7/8 points, his only loss coming against the indomitable Arthur Ssegwanyi.
The closing ceremony was a poignant occasion, graced by the presence of the sons of the late Rwabushenyi: Michael, Matthew, and Allan Rwabushenyi, who promised more support for the event next year.
Moving speeches were delivered by Hassan Mbuga and Stephen Kisuuze, who eloquently spoke of the late Rwabushenyi’s profound impact on their lives. They expressed gratitude for the opportunities he provided them and highlighted his unwavering support and guidance.
The late Rwabushenyi’s significant contribution to the growth of junior chess was widely acknowledged. He was instrumental in creating numerous opportunities for young players, fostering their development, and nurturing a new generation of chess talent.
The tournament served as a fitting tribute to the late Rwabushenyi, celebrating his legacy and inspiring future generations of chess players.
