The highly anticipated 2025 Nile special National pool open championship has been officially launched today morning at the Nile Breweries headquarters in Luzira with over 10000 players expected to participate across the centers nationwide, culminating in the grand finale at Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The colourful ceremony was graced by the Nile brand manager, Eric Malinga, the chairman of the Pool Association of Uganda, project codirector Mr Wasike Paul, Reigning men’s champions Mansoor Bwanika and Reigning champions women Marion Kasikye among others.
The Uganda most rewarding and prestigious pool tournament is organized by the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) in partnership with Nile and the tournament will officially cue off on Friday, 3rd October 2025 with the respective preliminary round of qualifiers and will climaxes on Saturday 20th December 2025.
The tournament starts with preliminary round qualifiers on 3rd October 2025 with 320 centers advancing to 40 regional qualifying centers until the grand finals on December 20th at MTN Indoor Arena in Lugogo.
The winners of the 2025 Nile special national pool championship will walk way with a brand new car in both categories and participates will only come from Uganda.
This year’s edition will mark the fourth time the ladies’ category will be featured in the competition.In a notable development, players who qualify through the mini qualifiers will be required to purchase seven (7) bottles of Nile Special to secure their participation in the qualifiers.
Addressing journalists during the launch, the sponsors brand manager Nile Eric Malinga re-echoed the brewer’s continued investment in the annual tournament;
“As a national brand that always seeks to inspire Ugandans to be proud of their nation. The pool open gives us that national platform to do this especially because it reaches almost every corner of this country.”
Bob Trubish, Chairman of the pool Association of Uganda hailed Nile special’s long standing contribution to the sport. He noted that the support of Nile special has been crucial in building a strong future for pool in Uganda, from grassroots qualifies to powering the grand finale.
“We are here today to celebrate the rebirth and continued growth of pool in Uganda, a journey we have been on together for many years. Nile special has been partner in building a future for future for pool in uganda. From supporting grassroots qualifies to powering the grand finale, their commitment has enabled us to give thousands of players across the country a chance to compete and dream big. The 2025 national open is set to be biggest in our history,” Trubish said.
List of the past winners in men’s category
2001: Bob Menani
2008: Jonah Turigye
2009: Fred Namanya
2010: Jonah Turigye
2011: Haliphan Ntwali
2012: Alfred Gumikiriza
2013: Jonah Turigye
2014: Fahad Ssewankambo
2015: Amos Ndyagumanawe
2016: Sula Matovu
2017: Fahad Ssewankambo
2018: Mansoor Bwanika
2023: Ceasar Chandiga
2024: Mansoor Bwanika
