GLASGOW, Scotland — Uganda has made an impressive start at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with athletes across basketball, netball, swimming, para powerlifting and boxing recording notable performances as Team Uganda continues its medal campaign.
The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) said the country’s athletes are competing in several disciplines, including women’s 3×3 basketball, boxing, para powerlifting, swimming and para swimming.
The Games officially began following the opening ceremony at The Hydro in Glasgow, with para powerlifting making history as the first para sport to award medals at a Commonwealth Games.
Gazelles Dominate 3×3 Basketball Pool Stage
Uganda’s women’s 3×3 basketball team, the Gazelles, have emerged as one of the country’s strongest performers after producing a series of impressive victories in Glasgow.
The team, comprising Melissa Akullo, Jane Asinde, Jamila Nansikombi and Perus Nyamwenge, opened their campaign with a strong run of victories.
After a tough opening contest against Jamaica, the Gazelles found their rhythm and defeated the Cayman Islands 21-7, using strong inside play and accurate shooting from distance.
They completed their opening day with a commanding 21-5 victory over regional rivals Kenya, recording three wins from three matches.
The winning streak continued when Uganda defeated Fiji 21-8, marking their fourth consecutive victory in the tournament.
However, their unbeaten run came to an end against tournament favourites Australia, who defeated Uganda 21-9.
The Gazelles fought hard but struggled against Australia’s physical strength, especially in the paint and on rebounds.
Despite the defeat, Uganda remains in contention for a place in the medal rounds as the team continues its quest for a Commonwealth Games podium finish.
She Cranes Start Netball Campaign with Victories
Uganda’s She Cranes have also made a strong beginning to their Commonwealth Games campaign after recording victories against Wales and Trinidad & Tobago.
The Ugandan netball side defeated Wales 59-50 in their opening match at The Hydro, producing a composed performance to secure their first win of the competition.
They followed that result with a dominant 80-34 victory over Trinidad & Tobago.
Unlike the closely fought Wales encounter, the She Cranes controlled the match from the opening whistle, taking a 40-19 lead into halftime before extending their advantage in the second half.
The victory strengthened Uganda’s position in the competition, although a tougher test awaits against Jamaica.
The She Cranes entered Glasgow as one of Africa’s leading netball teams and are aiming for a strong finish against some of the world’s best sides.
Swimmers Make Commonwealth Games History
Uganda’s swimming team achieved a historic milestone after three athletes reached Commonwealth Games semi-finals for the first time.
Jesse Ssengonzi qualified for the men’s 100m butterfly semi-finals after posting a time of 54.01 seconds in the heats.
His qualification marked the first time Uganda had reached a Commonwealth Games swimming semi-final.
Tendo Kaumi also made history after qualifying for the men’s 50m freestyle semi-finals with a time of 22.63 seconds.
The achievement marked Kaumi’s first Commonwealth Games semi-final appearance.
Gloria added another milestone for Uganda by qualifying for the women’s 100m freestyle semi-finals after recording a time of 55.88 seconds.
The performances represent a significant improvement for Uganda’s swimming programme, with athletes competing among some of the world’s top swimmers.
Denise Mbazira Delivers Strong Para Powerlifting Performance
Uganda’s Denise Mbazira produced a strong showing in para powerlifting, finishing second in Group B.
Mbazira said she was pleased with her performance after securing the position during the competition.
“Today it has been my day and I have made it. I was in Group B and I secured 2nd position. The games are still going on but at the moment I’m 2nd in Group B,” she said.
Para powerlifting made history at Glasgow 2026 after becoming the first para sport to award medals at a Commonwealth Games.
Weightlifter Niyoyita Misses Medal Opportunity
Uganda’s Davis Niyoyita narrowly missed out on a medal opportunity in the men’s 60kg weightlifting competition.
The African Games medallist delivered determined performances in both the snatch and clean and jerk categories but failed to complete his final 135kg lift, ending his hopes of finishing among the leading contenders.
Although he did not secure a medal, Niyoyita’s participation adds to Uganda’s growing representation in strength sports on the international stage.
Boxing Adds Wins to Uganda’s Campaign
Uganda’s boxing team also recorded positive results in Glasgow.
Welterweight boxer Nuhu Batte advanced after defeating Nigeria’s Abdulwahab Abdulramon by unanimous decision.
After trailing in the opening round, Batte used his reach and movement to dominate the final rounds and secure victory.
He later progressed to the quarter-finals after a hard-fought 3-2 split decision win over Yadav Pratap.
Meanwhile, Alfred Ojok advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Niue’s Anitelea Launiu 5-0.
With athletes making progress across multiple disciplines, Team Uganda continues its pursuit of medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
