Uganda enjoyed a strong showing in the doubles events but struggled in the singles as the 2026 Uganda International Badminton Series concluded on Sunday, October 25, at the MTN Indoor Arena in Lugogo, Kampala.
The 21st edition of the four-day tournament, which started on Thursday, attracted close to 115 players from 14 countries including Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Germany, India, Nigeria and the United States.
The hosts collected five medals, with their strongest performances coming in the women’s and mixed doubles. However, Uganda’s campaign in the men’s and women’s singles produced less success.
The tournament, which runs until October 4, carries significant weight for players targeting qualification points towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 2027 World Championships, raising the stakes from the opening day.
Uganda has entered 67 players, giving the hosts the largest representation in a field featuring competitors from across Africa and beyond.
Lubega and Mbabazi Settle for Silver
Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mbabazi were Uganda’s only finalists, finishing with silver in the mixed doubles after losing to Malaysia’s Hafiz Hakimi Hashim and Lim Xuan in the final.
The Ugandan pair had secured their place in the final with a straight-games victory over Algeria’s Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun and Linda Mazri, winning 21-19, 21-19 in the semifinals.
The victory guaranteed Lubega and Mbabazi at least a silver medal, continuing their impressive run after their strong showing at the Kampala International Future Series at the same venue
In the final, however, the Ugandan pair could not complete their campaign with gold, falling to the Malaysian combination.
Although the hosts missed out on the top prize in the mixed doubles, Uganda secured a substantial medal haul across the doubles and women’s singles events.
Tracy Naluwooza and Reagan Michael Nsubuga claimed bronze in the mixed doubles after losing 21-7, 21-17 to Hashim and Lim Xuan in the semifinals.
Naluwooza added another bronze in the women’s doubles, partnering Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi. The pair pushed India’s Akshita Manral and Ishita Negi in a closely contested opening game before losing 22-20, 21-13.
Gladys Mbabazi and Mable Namakoye also secured bronze in the women’s doubles following a 21-6, 21-9 semifinal defeat to India’s Sonali Singh and Ritika Thaker.
Mbabazi completed a three-medal tournament with bronze in the women’s singles. The Ugandan second seed lost 21-9, 21-13 to India’s Aesha Gandhi in the semifinals.
Uganda’s medal haul highlighted the country’s growing competitiveness in the doubles disciplines, even as the singles results exposed areas that will require further attention.
National Council of Sports General Secretary Dr Patrick Bernard Ogwel, who was the guest of honour at the closing ceremony, praised the Ugandan players for their performances, particularly their run to the mixed doubles final.
Ogwel urged the players not to be discouraged by the defeat, saying that reaching the final against strong international opposition was an achievement that should motivate them to work harder.
He also commended Badminton Uganda for consistently hosting international-standard competitions, saying such events give local players valuable opportunities to gain experience against opponents from different countries.
With the Lugogo Indoor Arena expected to undergo renovations, Ogwel indicated that the next edition of the Uganda International Badminton Series could potentially be hosted at Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira.
Final Results
Mixed Doubles
Hafiz Hakimi Hashim & Lim Xuan — Malaysia
Muzafaru Lubega & Gladys Mbabazi — Uganda
Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun & Linda Mazri — Algeria
Reagan Michael Nsubuga & Tracy Naluwooza — Uganda
Women’s Doubles
Akshita Manral & Ishita Negi — India
Sonali Singh & Ritika Thaker — India
Gladys Mbabazi & Mable Namakoye — Uganda
Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi & Tracy Naluwooza — Uganda
Men’s Doubles
Hafiz Hakimi Hashim & Meng Fong Wong — Malaysia
Manav Choudhary & Himanshu Tiwari — India
Abhyuday Choudhary & Ayush Makhija — India
Andy Yew Tung Kok & Yu Sheng Lim — Malaysia
Women’s Singles
Aesha Gandhi — India
Akshita Manral — India
Ishita Negi — India
Gladys Mbabazi — Uganda
Men’s Singles
Hein Htut — Myanmar
Ali Hayati — Iran
Abhishek Kanapala — India
Victor Ikechukwu — Nigeria
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