Team Uganda climbed the podium of the 2026 Uganda International Badminton Series four times on Sunday as the four-day competition came to a close at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
The hosts collected one silver and three bronze medals in a tournament that brought together players from 14 countries. Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mbabazi were mixed doubles finalists.
The in-form pair lost to Malaysia’s Hafiz Hakimi Hashim and Lim Xuan in front of a cheerful crowd led by the National Council of Sports General Secretary, Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel.
When asked about what comes next in their pursuit to become the top seed on the continent and qualify for the Olympic Games, Mbabazi had this to say:
“According to the information we have from our Federation, we have a local tournament two weeks from now, and after that, we have tournaments in Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa.”
“Hopefully, if funds are available, we will get to play those tournaments and also Algeria and Egypt in December. Our main target as a mixed doubles pair is to top Africa because, currently, we are ranked number two.”
The other Ugandan medals came in the doubles events as well. Reagan Michael Nsubuga and Tracy Naluwooza won bronze in mixed doubles, while Gladys Mbabazi and Meble Namakoye also took bronze in the women’s doubles.
With international ranking points and a $10,000 prize fund on offer, the competition provided additional motivation for players looking to improve their standing on the global badminton circuit in pursuit of qualifying for the Olympics.
