On a bright Friday morning, the walls of Sharing Youth Center in Nsambya were filled with nostalgia, laughter and inspiration as Uganda’s badminton legend, Edwin Ekiring walked through its doors, not as a guest but as a son returning home.
With the sun lighting up the courts where his dreams first took shape, Ekiring’s presence was more than a visit, it was a full circle moment.
This was no ordinary homecoming. This was EKiring giving back to the very roots that nurtured his greatness, Sharing Badminton Club, Uganda’s oldest badminton club and a place etched deeply in his story.
Edwin Ekiring’s journey began in the heart of Nsambya, just across the slum area near the polished buildings that seemed a world away like the current Arena mall and Mestil Hotel. It was here that a young boy, full of energy and raw potential picked up a racket for the first time under the guidance of Godfrey Kivumbi with Current Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) CEO Simon Mugabi playing a significant role in shaping his career.
“This is where I started,” Ekiring recalled, his voice filled with emotion. “Nsambya Railway was my first school. Sharing was one of the places that introduced me to badminton. I was just a little guy.”
From those humble beginnings, Ekiring’s journey rose to extraordinary heights, representing Uganda in four Commonwealth Games, three African Games and two Olympic Games (Beijing 2008 and London 2012). He became a continental force, collecting medals and admiration across Africa and beyond.
Despite a short-notice return to Uganda on April 10th, 2025, Ekiring made Sharing Badminton Club his first stop. Not for fame or ceremony but to fulfill a long-held desire, giving back to the community that raised him.
Ekiring brought more than stories. He brought equipment: rackets, shuttles, shoes and set of jerseys donated with love from his “brothers” Lloyd and Giorgio Van Zaalen, the Dutch family that embraced him in 2006 and became his second home.
“They looked for rackets and now they’re here, donated for the kids,” he said with pride. “Giorgio too donated his rackets. It’s about giving these young players a shot, just like I was given.”
For UBA CEO Simon Mugabi, seeing Ekiring return was a deeply moving moment. He had seen the boy grow into a warrior of the court from the late 90s through to the 2000s.
“Ekiring’s return is something money can’t buy,” Mugabi said. “He’s a pioneer, one of our first from Sharing Youth Center. He, along with Ben Mayega, played like giants even as juniors. They faced the best from Mauritius, Seychelles and South Africa and they conquered.”
Mugabi reminisced on the early days when he was allowed only five players by the club’s founders. “From five players to a club that has produced athletes now scattered across the globe; South Africa, Europe, America, Australia. That’s the legacy of Sharing.”
Sharing Badminton Club, founded in 1990, was never just about sport. It was a lifeline, a place where youth from difficult circumstances found discipline, purpose and opportunity.
Brother Bonkoungou Nazaire, one of the pillars at Sharing Hall expressed the collective pride of the community. “It is a gift for us to meet you again,” he told Ekiring. “You started from here and now you return to show the next generation what is possible.”
His words were a reminder that Sharing isn’t just a name, it’s a mission. “You pass through others to grow. Today, you help others grow. May God bless your work.”
Edwin Ekiring’s visit to Nsambya wasn’t about ceremonies or media flashes. It was a quiet, powerful statement: no matter how far you go, never forget where you came from.
Through his journey from Nsambya’s dusty courts to Olympic arenas, Ekiring has not only lifted Uganda’s name high on the international stage, he has lit the way for others to follow.
And on that note, before returning to the Netherlands, Ekiring will be touring various parts of Uganda to further promote the country to the world.
