The Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) has announced the withdrawal of the national team from the upcoming ITTF East Africa Regional Championships in Port Sudan, citing athlete welfare and safeguarding considerations.
The regional competition is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 23, 2026. However, following consultations and safeguarding assessments conducted in guidance with the National Council of Sports, UTTA said it had opted to reallocate its competitive resources and prioritise the safety and well-being of its delegation.
In an official statement released on Friday, the association described the decision as a “precautionary measure” intended to mitigate potential travel and participation risks.
“UTTA has prioritised the welfare, safety and well-being of athletes, coaches, officials and the entire delegation,” the statement read.
With the withdrawal confirmed, the association will now channel its technical preparations and high-performance programmes toward the ITTF-Africa Youth Championships and the ITTF-Africa Youth Cup set for Accra, Ghana, from July 20 to 29, 2026.
UTTA further confirmed that the same players who had qualified for the East Africa Regional Championships will retain their places in the national setup for the continental assignments in Ghana.
According to the association, the strategic shift offers Uganda’s young players additional preparation time to improve physical conditioning, tactical awareness and overall competitive readiness ahead of facing some of Africa’s strongest table tennis nations.
“The Association remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing Ugandan table tennis and benchmarking its athletes against Africa’s top-performing talent on the continental stage,” the statement added.
The move comes as several sports bodies across the continent continue to place increased emphasis on safeguarding, athlete welfare and strategic long-term development in elite competition planning.
