2026 Uganda National Chess Championship
The 2026 Uganda National Chess Championship (Super 12) concluded after three consecutive weekends of intense competition and 12 gruelling rounds of classical chess, officially selecting Uganda’s representatives for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Organised by the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF), the championship brought together the country’s 12 strongest players in each section to compete in a round-robin format. The twelve players were selected from the various Grand Prix events held in 2025. With Olympiad qualification at stake, each round was fiercely contested, producing tense encounters, pivotal moments, and dramatic shifts in the standings.
The average rating of the Open Section was 2068 with an average age of 32, while the average rating in the Ladies Section was 1746 with an average age of 21.
Open section: A battle to the final round
The Open Section of the 2026 Uganda National Chess Championship lived up to expectations, with qualification places undecided until the final round. Mark Nyola Wasswa emerged as the clear winner, delivering a consistent performance across all 11 rounds. He scored 8.5/11, finishing a full point ahead of the chasing pack to secure the national title.
FM Patrick Kawuma finished second with 7.5 points. CM Bob Bibasa, affectionately known as ‘The Beast,’ made a remarkable comeback from significant medical challenges to clinch third place with an impressive 7 points.
CM Emmanuel Egesa took fourth place with 6.5 points, while FM Haruna Nsubuga secured the final team spot, also with 6.5 points.
The most dramatic game of the championship came in round 11, featuring Matthias Ssonko against FM Harold Wanyama. At a critical moment, Black—holding a commanding position and seemingly assured of second place and an Olympiad team spot—faced a choice between capturing the pawn on b2 or b6. Opting for the b6 pawn appeared straightforward, but the move turned out to be a costly blunder. Ssonko immediately responded with Qd4, causing Wanyama’s advantageous position to unravel. The misstep not only cost him the game, but also dropped him to seventh in the standings, ultimately denying him a place on the Olympiad team. Chess can be unforgiving at the highest level.
Women’s Section: A Generational Shift
The Women’s Section marked a historic milestone, producing the youngest Olympiad team in Uganda’s history. Four of the five qualifiers are under 20, highlighting the growing strength of youth development and the rise of a confident new generation.
WIM Sana Omprakash Kayyar claimed the title with nine points out of 12 rounds. Olivia Asimwe finished second with 8 points, while WCM Juliet Asaba, WCM Shakira Ampaire, and WCM Patricia Kawuma secured the remaining team spots in that order.
Closing Ceremony
The championship concluded with a dignified closing ceremony attended by members of the UCF Executive Committee and led by the UCF President.
In his address, he commended the players for their resilience and fighting spirit throughout the demanding schedule, noting that the championship demonstrated both the depth of talent and the evolving competitive standards of Ugandan chess.
With the national team now confirmed, attention shifts to preparations for the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, where Uganda will join federations from across the globe in the most prestigious team event on the international chess calendar.
Game Corner
Photo Gallery
Event Details
Links
2026 Uganda National Chess Championship on chess-results.com.
2026 Ugandan Chess Championships on lichess.org.
Photo Album from the 2026 Uganda National Chess Championship by Ivan Mukuye.
The 2024 Uganda National Chess Championship IM Ssegwanyi & WCM Ampaire win.
