Silver lining for Mbabazi and Lubega at Lugogo

Uganda’s badminton players will continue to improve their game with the opportunity of international tournaments availed to them by Badminton Uganda.

They have, however, failed to break through to lifting the golden accolades at the tournaments but have expressed mixed feelings over the issue.

The mixed doubles pair of Gladys Mbabazi and Muzafar Lubega claimed a silver medal at the sixth edition of the Uganda International Badminton Series after losing 2-0 (21-17, 21-10) to Malaysia’s Kakimi Hashim and Lim Xuan.

The Ugandan pair also finished runners-up at the Kampala International Series held at the same venue last month.

The Ugandan players who won medals at the 2026 Uganda International Badminton Tournament. From left are Tracy Naluwooza, Mable Namakoye, Muzafar Lubega, Gladys Mbabazi and Fadilah Shamika. Photo: Silvano Kibuuka

Uganda also won two bronze medals in the women’s doubles, with Mbabazi and Mable Namakoye, as well as Fadilah Shamika and Tracy Naluwooza, finishing third.

Mbabazi, the tournament’s second seed, also claimed bronze in the women’s singles after losing 2-0 (21-9, 21-13) to eventual champion Aesha Gandhi of India.

The Ugandan players highlighted the challenge of competing against professional players who dedicate their lives to badminton.

“We are good, but many of those players eat, sleep, and live badminton, playing back-to-back international tournaments as their job. With us, we play badminton as a secondary activity because we have to work elsewhere to earn a living, while some are full-time students,” Mbabazi said.

Tracy Naluwooza also confirmed their situation and cited the equipment used.

“We talk to those players, and they are always in international competitions and high-level training. Most of them study online as they progress with competitions,” noted Naluwooza.

Ndejje University team wins the 32nd Kabaka Coronation Badminton tournament on August 10, 2025. The Minister of Sports in the Buganda government, Robert Sserwanga (second right), hands over the trophy. Photo: Silvano Kibuuka

She, however, hailed the tournament for giving home-based players an opportunity to compete, earn Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking points, and gain valuable exposure and experience.

Mbabazi is now targeting a stronger performance at the forthcoming City Tyres International Challenge, which is scheduled for the end of the month at Lugogo.

The tournament offered 2,500 BWF points to the winners and a cash prize of US$1,200, attracting 113 players from 17 countries.

India’s Aesha Gandhi and Myanmar’s Hein Htut won the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, with Hein successfully defending the title he won last year.

National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Patrick Ogwel has promised increased funding for badminton next year as part of efforts to improve the sport in Uganda and the region.

Ogwel also revealed plans to start hosting international badminton events at Akii-Bua Stadium next year.

He made the remarks while officiating as chief guest at the prize-giving ceremony for the three-day Uganda International Badminton Tournament, which concluded at the Lugogo Indoor Arena on Sunday.

“Badminton is one of the sports consistently giving results and a good image to Uganda by bringing in foreign players. Lugogo is also going to be demolished after AFCON for the construction of the new Kampala Sports Arena,” Ogwel said.

He said it is time the foreign community moved outside Kampala to travel to other parts of Uganda to watch the terrain and also promote the tourism industry through sports.