The Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) together with the National Council of Sports (NCS) on Wednesday launched the 2023 Kampala International, an international badminton tournament that will take place at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, from 28 September to 1 October 2023.
The tournament is categorized as a Future Series event and is organized by the Uganda Badminton Association with sanctions from the Badminton Confederation of Africa and the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The event was first held before COVID and the edition that starts today is just the second staging but it’s an event of high caliber.
“This event has ranking points so it’s very important for all the players,” UBA CEO Simon Mugabi told the media at the tournament launch at Copper Chimney Restaurant, Lugogo adding that; “16 countries will take part in this event so we expect tight competition throughout the event.”
The Kampala International is also an Olympic pathway with winners set to bag 1700 ranking points. UBA believes that this will motivate the players to do their best with Paris 2024 around the corner.
David Katende who is the Assistant General Secretary at NCS thanked UBA for staging the tournament after a long hiatus adding that holding events at home reduces on costs notably on flight tickets and the like.
“UBA has always been self-driven that’s why they have been able to host many events at home and as well win medals here and there, sometimes without adequate financial support from government. UBA is also one of the associations which maintain their rhythm from the beginning to the end of the year,” Katende said.
However, after the Kampala International, Uganda will also host the Uganda International Series that will run from 4-8 October. Winners from this event will claim 2500 ranking points.
Meanwhile, still on Wednesday, five players who recently won medals at continental engagements in West Africa (Cameroon and Benin) presented their medals to NCS. The players were; Husina Kobugabe, Gladys Mbabazi, Tracy Naluwooza, Fadila Shamika and Brian Kasirye.
