School table tennis in Uganda is finding its rhythm again.
After disappearing from the calendar for 10 years, the Kateregga Memorial Schools and Institutions Championship is back, restoring a competition once regarded as a launchpad for the country’s brightest young prospects.
For years, the absence of a structured schools’ championship left a noticeable gap in talent identification. Now, with the return of the event, the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA) is betting on renewed energy at grassroots level to strengthen the national pipeline.
UTTA president Cyrus Muwanga says the comeback is intentional and strategic.
“This championship is returning as a cornerstone of our season. We want it to consistently open our calendar and rebuild competitive table tennis in schools,” Muwanga explained. “Our focus is on primary, secondary and university players because that is where the future of the sport lies.”
The timing could not be more symbolic. With Uganda’s leading player, Joseph Ssebatindira, currently in France sharpening his skills at an international training camp, the domestic stage is wide open for emerging players eager to step into the spotlight.
The three-day competition will take place from February 27 to March 1 at Lugogo Indoor Arena, a venue that has hosted some of the sport’s biggest local moments.
Organisers have also attracted corporate backing to stabilise the event’s return. Sure Pay has injected sh7m in cash support, while Legacy Productions Limited has committed facilitation valued at sh40m, covering production elements such as staging, sound, videography and photography.
Beyond the competition, the championship serves as a tribute to Francis Kateregga, one of Uganda’s most revered table tennis figures. Before his passing in 1997, Kateregga represented the country at elite continental events, including the All-Africa Games, where he played a role in securing a historic medal in racket sports.
Participation remains accessible to schools across the country. Team entry is set at sh70,000, while singles categories cost sh5,000 for primary pupils and sh10,000 for secondary and university players. Registration closes next Tuesday.
More than just a tournament, the event signals a renewed commitment to rebuilding Uganda’s table tennis structure from the ground up — one school at a time.
