Nyonyintono Audrey, a Primary Six pupil at Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira, has delivered an impressive performance for Uganda at the XI Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships in Kampala, winning two bronze medals and setting three personal bests. Her achievement is a proud moment for our school and the wider Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools community, reflecting her dedication to swimming and the promising talent she continues to demonstrate.
Competing in the girls’ 12-and-under category, Audrey faced strong opposition from across the region. She secured bronze medals in the 100-metre butterfly and 200-metre freestyle before finishing fourth in the 200-metre individual medley. Her performances across the three events highlighted her versatility and determination, while the personal bests she recorded demonstrated her continued progress in the sport.
Audrey opened her medal-winning campaign on day two with the 100-metre short-course butterfly, clocking 1:14.53 to claim bronze for Uganda. She improved her previous personal best of 1:17.48 by 2.95 seconds, marking an encouraging start to her first appearance at the championships.
Kenya’s Kimani Katja won gold in 1:11.92, while Uganda’s Nabatanzi Mushira claimed silver in 1:12.88. Mushira, a student at Seroma High School and Uganda’s national champion in the girls’ under-12 100-metre butterfly, added another medal to the host nation’s tally.
The competitive final gave Audrey valuable experience against some of the region’s leading young swimmers. Her ability to improve her time and secure a place on the podium was an encouraging indication of the progress she has made through training and competition.
She returned to the podium in the girls’ 12-and-under 200-metre short-course freestyle, recording 2:27.23 to win her second bronze medal. Audrey lowered her previous personal best of 2:36.29 by an impressive 9.06 seconds, recording her biggest time improvement across the three individual events.
Katja claimed gold in 2:26.41, while compatriot Diamtidis Athena secured silver in 2:26.76. Audrey was Uganda’s only swimmer on the podium in the event, finishing just 0.47 seconds behind Athena and 0.82 seconds behind Katja.
The close margins reflected the high level of competition and Audrey’s ability to challenge the leading swimmers. Her second medal, coupled with another personal best, further strengthened an encouraging campaign in which she improved her performance in every event.
On day three, Audrey competed in the girls’ 12-and-under 200-metre short-course individual medley, finishing fourth in 2:49.07. Although she narrowly missed another medal, she improved her previous personal best of 2:53.00 by 3.93 seconds, completing a clean sweep of personal bests across her three individual races.
The individual medley tests a swimmer’s ability across butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Audrey’s improved time therefore offered further evidence of her development across the four strokes and provided a positive conclusion to her individual campaign.
Katja won gold in 2:40.42, Mushira took silver in 2:41.32, and Kenya’s Hassan Aisha claimed bronze in 2:47.10. Audrey finished 1.97 seconds behind Aisha, narrowly missing the podium despite registering another personal best.
Across the three events, Audrey collected two bronze medals and recorded three personal bests. For a swimmer making her debut at the championships, the results represent a valuable combination of medal-winning success, international experience and measurable improvement.
“I am proud to represent my country this year. Being the first time makes it extra special. This is just the beginning of what’s to come,” Audrey said.
Her performance formed part of a successful campaign for Uganda, which secured its fourth consecutive Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships title and sixth overall across the competition’s 11 editions. The achievement further cemented Uganda’s position as the region’s most successful swimming nation.
Uganda won the inaugural championship in 2015 and claimed the title again in 2021 when it hosted the competition at Kampala International School Uganda. Its latest triumph extended an impressive run of success, although the country is yet to win the championship in either Rwanda or Tanzania. With Tanzania announced as the host of the 12th edition, Uganda will look to begin preparations to defend its title and extend its winning streak on foreign soil.
Audrey’s contribution to Uganda’s latest success adds to an impressive record at school-level competitions. In 2025, she won individual medals at the National Primary Schools Swimming Gala and emerged as the best performer for Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools.
Audrey also won all her races at the 2025 Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools and City Parents’ School Annual Swimming Gala, helping our Kira campus finish third overall. Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Mengo emerged as champions, while Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Nakasero finished as runners-up.
Her progress is particularly encouraging because she moved from the 9–10 age category into the 12-and-under group this year. The transition has brought her into competition with older swimmers, presenting a new challenge as she continues to refine her technique and improve her times.
Her results in Kampala suggest that she is adapting well to the stronger competition. Recording personal bests in all three events while winning two medals for Uganda provides a strong foundation for her continued development. We are proud of the way she has represented our school and country on the regional stage.
Audrey is not the only swimmer connected to the Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools community representing Uganda at the championships. Former pupil Muganzi Tyra, who completed her primary education at Fairways Primary School Kireka, is also competing at this year’s event.
Tyra enjoyed an outstanding campaign at the 2025 Africa Aquatics Zone III Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, finishing as the second-best swimmer in the girls’ 13–14 age category with 19 medal points. Her achievement reflected her strength across several events and established her as one of Uganda’s promising young swimming talents.
Her individual medals included gold in the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200-metre butterfly, as well as bronze in the 800-metre freestyle. She also contributed to Uganda’s relay success, helping the country win gold in the mixed under-14 4x50-metre medley relay and silver in both the girls’ 4x50-metre freestyle and medley relays.
Now competing in the 15–16 age category, Tyra has continued to excel against older swimmers, winning five gold and two silver medals for Uganda this year. Her progress highlights the importance of consistent training and regular competition as young athletes advance through the age groups.
Another former learner and swimmer, Husnah Kukundakwe, who attended Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Mengo, was also present at this year’s championships as a guest. Her achievements have helped raise the profile of Ugandan swimming on the international stage.
Husnah made history at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow by winning silver in the women’s SB8 100-metre breaststroke. The achievement secured Uganda’s first-ever Commonwealth Games swimming medal, marking a landmark moment for the country’s aquatic sport.
At Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira, we believe every learner deserves the opportunity to discover, develop and showcase their abilities while pursuing academic excellence. Our commitment to talent development recognises the important role of sport in building confidence, teamwork, resilience and other essential life skills that prepare pupils for success both in and beyond the classroom.
We recognise and appreciate Sailfish Swim Club Kampala for its contribution to Audrey’s development and congratulate the club on supporting her progress. The dedication of her coaches, combined with Audrey’s determination, encouragement from her family and opportunities to compete at school and national level, has helped create a supportive environment for her continued growth as a swimmer.
Audrey’s achievements also reflect the collective support she receives from those around her. Her coaches guide her technical development, her teachers support her academic journey, and her parents encourage her ambitions. This partnership between home, school and club helps her balance her education with the demands of competitive swimming.
Her success forms part of an encouraging sporting year for Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools. Our boys’ basketball team won the 2026 FUBA Primary Schools League title after defeating Hill Preparatory School 47–44 in a closely contested final.
Our girls’ team claimed silver after losing 34–24 to Hill Preparatory School in the championship final, while our under-11 team secured bronze with a convincing 38–20 victory over the same school in the third-place play-off. These results reflect our learners’ commitment and the continued work of our Talent Development Programme in identifying and nurturing sporting ability from an early age.
Our learners also represented Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools at the Father Grimes National Schools Chess Championship at Ntare School in Mbarara, where we finished fifth. Participation in swimming, basketball, chess and other national competitions gives our pupils opportunities to discover their strengths, develop their abilities and learn valuable lessons in preparation, teamwork and perseverance.
Audrey’s two bronze medals and three personal bests are a proud achievement for her family, Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira, Sailfish Swim Club Kampala and Uganda. We congratulate her on representing her country with distinction and appreciate everyone who continues to support her journey, including her parents, teachers and club coaches.
At Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira, we remain committed to creating opportunities for every learner to explore their talents, develop their potential and pursue their ambitions alongside their education. Audrey’s achievement is a testament to what young people can accomplish when their abilities are nurtured, their efforts encouraged and their aspirations supported.
