IM Ssegwanyi & WCM Kawuma win 2024 Rwabushenyi Memorial

IM Ssegwanyi & WCM Kawuma win 2024 Rwabushenyi Memorial

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi  & WCM Patricia Kawuma won their respective sections in the 2024 Rwabushenyi Memorial that ended last week in Kampala, Uganda. The event ran from 5th to 8th December 2043 at the Nob View Hotel in downtown Kampala.

Open Section

IM Arthur Ssegwanyi won the event with a perfect score of eight points out of eight rounds, underlying his total domination of Ugandan chess.  He went home with UGX 1.5 million (USD 450).

Allan Mugagga, a relatively newcomer to chess, grabbed the silver medal and UGX 800,000 with seven points.

FM Haruna Nsubuga and CM Emmanuel Egesa shared joint third place with 6.5 points, even though FM Haruna took the silver due to a better tie-break.

The Open Section saw 100 participants

Ladies Section

WCM Patricia Kawuma delivered an unparalleled performance, winning all her games with a perfect 8/8 score and a cash prize of UGS 1 million (USD 300). 

WCM Shakira Ampaire claimed second place with 6 points, while Joan Ahereza  finished third with 5.5 points.

The Ladies Section saw a total of 34 participants taking part.

Junior Section

Abel Kyagambiddwa won the section with seven points.  Elvis Tumusiime took the silver with 6.5 points, while Talia Atubet took the bronze with six points.

This section had 55 players competing in various age and rating groupings.

Game Corner

Photo Corner & event poster

Sponsors & Organisers

The Uganda Chess Federation is the organiser with sponsorship from the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) of UGX 5 million (USD 1,500).

The tournament is held every year in honor of Cyril Rwabushenyi, a former director of the UCAA.  He was also a founding member and former Chairman of the Uganda Chess Federation.

Past winners

Past winners of this prestigious and iconic event include the following;

2023 – Emmanuel Mwaka

2022 – FM Harold Wanyama

2021 – FM Haruna Nsubuga

2020 – Event not held due to Covid.

2019 –  IM Arthur Ssegwanyi

2018 –  FM Patrick Kawuma

2017 – FM Patrick Kawuma (Open section) & WFM Goretti Angolikin (Ladies section).

2016 – event was not held.

2015 – IM Arthur Ssegwanyi with 7.5 points. Event held on 5th/6th/12th & 13th December 2015.

2014 – FM Harold Wanyama with 7 points. Event held in early January 2015.

2011 – FM Harold Wanyama.

2010 – IM Elijah Emojong with 7 points & Phiona Mutesi winner of Ladies section.

2009 – FM Harold Wanyama.

2008 – FM Harold Wanyama.