Eastern Uganda Region Chess Championship 2026 Ends in Style as IM Emojong and WCM Asaba Crowned Champions
Publicity Secretary
Eastern Uganda Region Chess Championship 2026 Ends in Style as IM Emojong and WCM Asaba Crown Champions
Jinja – The inaugural Eastern Uganda Region Chess Championship 2026 concluded successfully at the Source of the Nile Hotel in Jinja on 26th July 2026, marking a historic milestone for chess development in the region and Uganda as a whole.
Organized by the Eastern Uganda Region Chess Association (EURCA) in collaboration with the Uganda Chess Federation (UCF), the three-day FIDE-rated Grand Prix event attracted over 150 players, including competitors from Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan and the United States of America. It was the first UCF Grand Prix tournament of the 2026/2027 calendar.
Open Section Glory for IM Emojong Elijah
International Master Emojong Elijah of Gambit Chess Club emerged champion of the Open Section with an impressive 5½ points from 6 rounds. He walked away with the top cash prize of UGX 2,500,000, a trophy and the gold medal.
The podium was completed by:
- Mulondo Joshua Jordan – 5 points – Silver medal and UGX 1,037,500
- Magino Norman – 5 points – Bronze medal and UGX 687,500
Muhirwa Alvin and Kachuol Kachuol Jok (South Sudan) shared 4th–5th place with 5 points each, taking home UGX 287,500 apiece.
Other special awards in the Open Section went to:
- Best Eastern Based Player - Open: Bamuwamye Melvin (Trophy + UGX 250,000)
- Best Differently Abled Player: Muwayi Collins (UGX 100,000)
- Best Veteran (S50+): Obita Francis of Jinja Knights Chess Club (UGX 250,000)
- Best U1900: Ahumuza Apollo (UGX 200,000)
- Best U1700: Bavekuno Trevor (UGX 150,000)
Ladies Section Dominated by WCM Asaba Juliet
In the Ladies Section, Woman Candidate Master Asaba Juliet claimed the title with a great score of 5 points / 6 games, earning UGX 1,500,000, a trophy and the gold medal.
She was followed by:
- Asiimwe Olivia – 4½ points – Silver and UGX 750,000
- WCM Ampaire Shakira – 4½ points – Bronze and UGX 500,000
- Suhana Anil Yadav – 4½ points – UGX 250,000
Special category winners included:
- Best Lady Player - Eastern: Awino Salume (Trophy + UGX 200,000)
- Best Differently Abled Player (Ladies): Amojong Penninah (UGX 100,000)
Junior Champions Crowned
In the Junior Section, Waiswa Joshua of Kiira College Butiki emerged Boys Champion, while Kirabo Anabel Mawerere took the Girls title.
A Landmark Event for Chess in Eastern Uganda
Speaking at the opening ceremony, UCF Deputy President Allan Benjamin Mande highlighted the Federation’s plans to expand chess into prisons and refugee camps as a tool for youth engagement and crime prevention. He also called on political leaders to support the introduction of chess in schools and communities.
Abbey Mawerere, President of the Eastern Uganda Region Chess Association, described the championship as a major step towards making the region a chess powerhouse. He revealed plans to supply schools across Eastern Uganda with chess boards, clocks and training support, and to engage the National Curriculum Development Centre to have chess included in the school curriculum.
“The event has reached an international level and has shown the huge potential of chess tourism in Jinja,” Mawerere said.
The tournament, which offered a total prize fund of approximately UGX 12 million, was widely praised for its organization, competitive quality and inclusive special awards for veterans, differently abled players and regional representatives.
With the successful staging of the first Grand Prix event, the Eastern Uganda Region Chess Association has firmly placed Jinja on the national chess map and set a strong foundation for future editions of the championship.
PHOTO GALLERY - Credit- Arthur Mukunya (Bani Chess Bulletin)
