Ugandan pool-playing sisters Rukia Naiga and Rashida Mutesi returned home to a heroes’ welcome on Monday following their impressive performances at the 2026 Commonwealth Cue Sports Championships in Ahmedabad, India, where they won gold and silver medals, respectively.
Fans, Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) officials and fellow players gathered at Entebbe International Airport to welcome the duo, whose achievements have renewed calls for greater government support and recognition of pool sports in Uganda.
Among those present to receive the returning players was Caesar Chandiga, the defending National Open champion, who missed the trip to India due to illness.
Naiga clinched the women’s Blackball title after defeating South Africa’s Prudence Nkosi 5–3 in the final, while Mutesi secured silver in the women’s Heyball category after narrowly losing 5–4 to England’s Kelly Fisher in a deciding frame.
Despite celebrating her silver medal, Mutesi highlighted the challenges of competing in Heyball, a discipline for which Uganda lacks the necessary infrastructure.
“I’m excited with the silver medal. Heyball is a new discipline, but we don’t have tables in Uganda. It was hard, but I played my best,” she said.
“We ask the government to create an environment that enables us to play all disciplines of pool.”
Naiga, who returned home as a champion, also expressed her disappointment over what she described as the limited government recognition afforded to pool players compared with athletes in other sports.
“It feels good to be a champion of the world. But it also feels bad that many other athletes win and they get government recognition, yet for pool, we’re yet to be recognised,” she said.
The sisters now turn their attention to the domestic calendar, with the Ladies League scheduled to begin this weekend ahead of the National Open Pool Championship.
Their performances in India have not only showcased Uganda’s growing talent in cue sports but also highlighted the need for increased investment, improved facilities and greater institutional support to help local players compete at the highest level.
