KAMPALA, UGANDA — The local youth sports landscape witnessed a historic milestone on Saturday, July 18th, as the highly anticipated KCB School Chess Tournament 2026 took center stage at Kampala Parents School in Naguru. Originally postponed from mid-June, the rescheduled event proved well worth the wait, officially shattering records to become the largest kids’ rapid chess tournament in the region’s history.
An astonishing field of approximately 830 young players turned up to battle across the checkered boards, turning the venue into a vibrant battlefield of tactical minds.
A Grand-Scale Investment in the Future of Chess
The monumental success of the tournament was anchored by a massive UGX 30 million investment from the main sponsor, KCB Bank. This generous funding heavily contributed to ensuring a premium experience for all attendees:
- Tournament Logistics & Prizes: Seamless coordination of multiple junior brackets and high-quality awards.
- Grassroots Development: A distribution of 500 chess boards directly to participating schools to cultivate the next generation of masters.
- Hospitality: A complimentary, high-quality lunch served to all competitors, coaches, and attendees.
The event ran like clockwork through all 8 intense rounds of rapid chess, heavily backed by technical and structural support from the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF). Dozens of chess coaches from across the country were also present to witness their students navigate the competitive high-stakes environment.
Strategic Partnerships and Organizers
The historic gathering was made possible through a collaboration of top-tier organizers and corporate allies. The triad driving the event’s execution included:
- KCB Bank
- Duya Discoveries
- Brand Chess Life Academy (BCLA)
A powerhouse lineup of corporate partners also stepped up to support the initiative, including School Pay, Ruparelia Foundation, ICEA Insurance, UBC Health, and Crown Beverages Limited.
Fierce Competition Across Categories
With age brackets ranging all the way from Under-6 (U6) to Under-20 (U20), the tournament gave players of every developmental stage a platform to shine. Competitors pushed their pieces to the limit, yielding clean sweeps and hard-fought victories in the final standings:
Selected Standout Performers:
- U08 Open: Stanley Mborifuko (GreenHill Academy Kibuli) reigned supreme with a perfect 8/8 score, followed closely by Elvin Abenaitwe on 7 points.
- U10 Open: Francis Tumusiime (Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School) dominated the open division with an unblemished 8/8 record.
- U10 Girls: Melisa Edinansi (KTCA) secured the top spot with a flawless 8 points out of 8.
- U12 Open: Ronald Wabwire (Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School) displayed exceptional masterclass form, cleaning up the bracket with a maximum 8 points.
- U12 Girls: Anaia Baliddawa Solange (Gayaza Junior School) swept her field perfectly to finish with 8 points.
- U14 Open: Apollo Ahumuza (KTCA) clinched the gold medal in a fiercely contested bracket, finishing on 7 points.
- U14 Girls: WCM Juliet Asaba (Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School) lived up to her title billing, dominating with a clean 8/8 sweep.
- U18 Girls: Ariella Agaba Sherry (Triple C Home School) claimed victory at the top of her division with 7 points.
A Star-Studded Closing Ceremony
The tournament concluded with a prestigious closing ceremony, where the young prodigies were presented with prestigious awards and trophies courtesy of KCB Bank.
The ceremony was graced by an esteemed panel of officials who took turns praising the historical turnout and the discipline displayed by the youth. Notable dignitaries in attendance included:
- Mr. Edgar Byamah — Managing Director, KCB Bank
- The Headmistress of Kampala Parents School
- Mr. David Muwanguzi — Treasurer, Uganda Chess Federation
- Mr. Vianney Mukalazi — Representative, Brand Chess Life Academy (BCLA)
By giving over 800 children a grand stage to showcase their mental acuity, the 2026 KCB School Chess Tournament did more than just break a record—it firmly cemented chess as one of the fastest-growing and most well-supported youth sports in Uganda.
