Team Uganda Eyes Action-Packed Saturday as Swimmers, She Cranes and Boxers Launch Commonwealth Games Campaign

Team Uganda is set for a thrilling and action-filled Saturday at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with athletes scheduled to compete across three disciplines, swimming, netball and boxing. The day promises to be one of the busiest for the Ugandan delegation so far, as several competitors take to the international stage with hopes of producing memorable performances. At the same time, the country’s athletics team is expected to arrive in Scotland, further boosting Uganda’s contingent as preparations continue for the athletics programme later in the Games.

The day’s competition begins at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre, where Uganda’s swimmers will be looking to make a strong impression against some of the Commonwealth’s finest talents. Every race presents an opportunity for the swimmers to test themselves at the highest level, improve personal bests and potentially advance through the competition, making each event crucial in Uganda’s overall campaign.

Gloria Muzito will open Uganda’s swimming programme when she competes in the women’s 200m freestyle at 12:41 p.m. EAT. The versatile swimmer will be aiming for a confident start to the day’s proceedings before attention shifts to the sprint events. Tendo Kaumi is next in the pool for the men’s 50m freestyle at 1:00 p.m. EAT, followed just seven minutes later by compatriot Tendo Mukalazi, who will also line up in the highly competitive one-length race where explosive starts and flawless finishes often determine the outcome.

Uganda’s butterfly specialists will then take centre stage as Jordan Samula competes in the men’s 100m butterfly at 1:23 p.m. EAT, before Jesse Ssengonzi follows in the same event at 1:31 p.m. EAT. The swimming programme for Team Uganda will conclude with the mixed relay team at 2:25 p.m. EAT, an event that demands seamless coordination, quick exchanges and collective determination as the swimmers combine their strengths in pursuit of a strong finish.

Later in the evening, the spotlight will turn to The Hydro, where the She Cranes will officially begin their Commonwealth Games campaign against hosts Wales at 6:00 p.m. EAT. Uganda’s national netball team enters the tournament with high expectations following years of consistent performances on the international stage. A positive result against Wales would provide an important confidence boost and lay a solid foundation for the team’s ambitions of progressing deep into the competition.

The action will continue at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), where Uganda’s boxing team will begin its medal quest with two crucial Round of 32 contests. Every bout carries significant importance, with victory guaranteeing progression to the next stage and keeping alive hopes of reaching the podium in one of the Games’ most fiercely contested sports.

First into the ring will be Ibrahim Kemis, who faces Albert Ngulube of Zambia in the men’s lightweight (60kg) category at 8:00 p.m. EAT. Kemis will be determined to overcome a tough opponent and secure passage into the Round of 16. One hour later, Alfred Ojok will step into the ring to battle Kalani Anitelea-Launiu of Niue in the men’s light heavyweight (80kg) division at 9:00 p.m. EAT, with both Ugandan boxers hoping to deliver composed and commanding performances.

Away from the competition venues, Uganda’s preparations continue behind the scenes. Weightlifter Davis Niyoyita, who arrived in Glasgow on Friday, is scheduled to complete his final training session at 11:00 a.m. Uganda time as he fine-tunes his preparations ahead of his Commonwealth Games debut. His final workout will allow coaches to assess his readiness before competition begins.

Meanwhile, Uganda’s track and field team is expected to arrive in Glasgow later today, completing the country’s delegation for the Games. The arrival of the athletics squad marks another significant milestone in Team Uganda’s campaign, with the athletes now set to acclimatise, settle into the Games Village and begin final preparations before they take on some of the world’s best competitors in the coming days. With action spread across multiple sports, Saturday promises to be another important chapter in Uganda’s quest for Commonwealth Games success.