History was made under the bright Riyadh lights on Wednesday evening as Uganda’s young Table Tennis prodigies, Jemimah Nakawala and Judith Parvin Nangonzi, struck bronze at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.
The two teenagers from Kibuli Secondary School defied odds, fear, and reputation to become the first Ugandan Table Tennis team ever to win a medal at the prestigious Games a breakthrough moment that could redefine the sport’s future in the country.
Their fairytale run came to a halt in the semi-finals against the seasoned Iranian pair Shima Safaei and Neda Shahsavari, falling 1–3 after a promising start. Nakawala and Nangonzi had raised early hopes with an 11–9 win in the opening game before the Iranians’ experience showed through with dominant wins in the next three sets (11–3, 11–2, 11–8).
But by the time the final point was played, Uganda’s place on the podium was already guaranteed. The bronze was secured through their gritty 3–2 quarterfinal victory over Azerbaijan’s Marziyya Nurmatoa and Alylin Asgarova a thrilling contest that showcased Uganda’s growing depth in the sport.
“We are building something special,” said head coach Alvin Katumba, visibly proud of his players’ poise and perseverance. “These girls have worked so hard for this. It’s not just a medal it’s a signal that Uganda can compete with the very best.”
Elsewhere, Uganda’s campaign had mixed fortunes. The men’s doubles duo Joseph Francis Sebatindira and Joshua Magaya fell 1–3 to Guyana’s Bryan Anthony Nigel and Ronaldo Britton Shemar, while Nakawala’s singles run ended in the quarterfinals against Egypt’s Yousra Ashraf Abdelrazek (1–4).
By the close of Wednesday, Uganda’s medal tally stood at six—four from swimming, one from boxing, and the historic bronze from table tennis. Swimmer Anna Gloria Muzito (Oly) continued her stellar form with two golds and a bronze, while Jesse Ssubbi Ssengonzi and boxer Alfred Ojok each added to the national haul.
For Nakawala and Nangonzi, though, this bronze meant far more than numbers it was a moment of pride, promise, and proof that Uganda’s new generation of athletes can shine on any stage.
