Uganda’s flag flew high in Gaborone on Sunday as Fadilah Shamika Mohammed Rafi delivered a career defining performance at the 2026 All Africa Senior Badminton Championships.
A few years after settling for silver against Scholtz, the 22-year-old returned to the continental stage determined to go one better and she did.
Shamika defeated long-time rival Johanita Scholtz of South Africa in a thrilling three set women’s singles final, winning 21-17, 16-21, 21-19 in a match that tested her skill and composure.
She took the first set with confidence but was forced onto the back foot in the second. In a tense decider, fatigue began to show, yet she held her nerve to close out the match and seal gold.
The victory secured Uganda’s second gold medal at the championships and made Shamika the first Ugandan woman to win two gold medals at the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships. She previously won gold in 2023 and added a doubles bronze.
Her 2026 campaign also brought another podium finish. Partnering national captain Tracy Naluwooza, Shamika claimed bronze in the women’s doubles.
The pair lost in the semifinals to South Africa’s Amy Ackerman and Scholtz, but the medal added to Uganda’s overall tally.
Uganda sent a 10-player team under coach Frank Muwuluzi, with Naluwooza serving as captain.
It was a mixed campaign, as several players exited early and travel challenges affected participation in the team events.
The championships also served as qualifiers for the 2026 Thomas and Uber Cup, with Uganda narrowly missing out in the team competition.
Still, Shamika’s triumph has lifted spirits within Uganda’s badminton community.
Attention now turns to Kampala, where the Uganda International Challenge runs from February 18 to 22 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena.
