The Africa Youth Chess Championship 2026 (AYCC 2026) drew to a thrilling close after nine hard-fought rounds, and Team Uganda walked away with plenty to celebrate. In a fitting end to the tournament, ACC President Tshepiso Lopang stepped to the board to make a ceremonial move alongside one of the event's young talents during Final Round 9 — a moment that captured the spirit of a championship built around the next generation of African chess.

When the final scores were tallied, Uganda had earned a proud second place on the medal table, finishing behind a strong Egyptian contingent. Egypt topped the standings with four gold medals across the twelve categories on offer, but Uganda pushed them all the way and emerged as the clear runner-up among the continent's youth.

Uganda's young players collected a total of eight medals: three golds, two silvers, and three bronzes. It was a performance that announced the country's growing depth across age groups and categories, with podium finishes spread from the youngest sections all the way up to the under-18s.

This was a championship where Team Uganda truly stood out among its regional peers. Securing the number two spot on the continent's youth stage is no small feat, and the breadth of the medal haul — covering girls' and open sections, and reaching across the under-8 through under-18 divisions — points to a chess programme that is developing talent at every level.

From Mbabazi Jacinta's gold in the under-8 girls' section to Sana Omprakash's silver in the under-18 girls', these results reflect the hard work of the players, their coaches, families, and the wider Ugandan chess community.

One of the standout themes of Uganda's campaign was the dominant presence of the Kamwokya Teens Club and Academy (KTCA). In fact, every single one of Uganda's medals — with the lone exception of Sana Omprakash's silver in the Under-18 Girls section — was won by a KTCA player. That is seven of the country's eight medals coming from one Kamwokya-based club.

The KTCA medalists were:

Much of the credit goes to coaches Mukasa Patrick and Gonza Simon, whose dedication to nurturing young talent in Kamwokya is now paying off on the continental stage. Their work is a powerful reminder that with the right guidance and community support, grassroots clubs can produce champions capable of competing with the very best in Africa.

A second-place finish at AYCC 2026 sets a high benchmark and a clear ambition for the years to come. With young stars already proving themselves on the African stage, the future of Ugandan chess looks bright. Congratulations to every player who represented the nation, and to everyone who made the journey possible.

Behind every fair and well-run championship stands a dedicated team of arbiters, and AYCC 2026 was no exception. The arbitration team worked tirelessly across all nine rounds to ensure the games ran smoothly, the rules were upheld, and every young player competed on a level playing field.


Arbitrating a youth championship of this scale is a demanding role that goes far beyond simply enforcing the rules. The team was responsible for managing the pairings each round, starting and monitoring the clocks, resolving disputes calmly and impartially, and guiding many first-time competitors through the formalities of tournament play. With players ranging from the under-8s all the way to the under-18s, the arbiters also brought patience and care to their work, helping young talents feel comfortable and confident at the board.


Their presence ensured that results were earned cleanly and that the integrity of every game was protected — from the opening moves of Round 1 to the decisive battles of Final Round 9. In a championship that celebrated the next generation of African chess, and that formed part of the wider ACC50 milestone, the arbitration team's professionalism set the standard for how the event was conducted.

Quietly and consistently, this team kept the championship fair, efficient, and welcoming. Their commitment behind the scenes was every bit as important to the success of AYCC 2026 as the medals won on the board, and they deserve recognition for the long hours and steady hands they brought to the event.