In what is being hailed as a breakout moment for Ugandan table tennis, a team of just seven junior players stunned the continent by collecting eight medals at the landmark 2025 African Table Tennis Festival held in Lagos, Nigeria.
Spanning three major events—the Africa Hopes Week and Challenge, the African Youth Championships, and the prestigious African Youth Cup—the festival brought together top young talent from 15 nations. Uganda, considered an underdog coming into the competition, walked away with five golds, two silvers, and a pair of bronze medals, marking the nation’s most successful campaign in international table tennis to date.
The defining moment came during the Africa Youth Cup (Aug 4–5), where Uganda stole the spotlight in a dramatic all-Ugandan final in the U-15 boys’ singles. Joseph Sebatindira edged out his older brother Shafir Nsereko in a tense showdown, securing gold and silver for the country in a field of 32 elite competitors. It was a moment of pride not just for their family—but for Ugandan sport as a whole.
Earlier in the festival, Uganda dominated the Africa Hopes Week (July 20–25), clinching U-12 singles titles through Sebatindira and Patience Anyango in the boys and girls categories, respectively. It marked Uganda’s arrival on the continental stage at the grassroots level.
The momentum carried into the African Youth Championships (July 27–Aug 3), where the girls’ team of Jemimah Nakawala, Patra Nasirumbi, and Anyango captured Uganda’s first-ever continental gold in the team event. In individual play, Nsereko claimed U-15 gold while Nakawala took home a silver. Uganda also secured two bronze medals in highly competitive draws.
The team’s performance, led by coaches Alvin Katumba and Tendo Balyewunya, turned heads across the continent. With just seven players, Uganda outperformed several traditional table tennis powerhouses in a multi-event championship that tested skill, stamina, and mental resilience.
The 2025 festival has not only cemented Uganda’s position as a rising force in African table tennis—it has ignited hope for a new era of dominance.
