Lugogo Indoor Arena has been transformed into a badminton hub as more than 1,500 participants converge for the ninth edition of the City Tyres East Africa Badminton Challenge 2026, which serves off a five-day spectacle of competition and talent development.
Sponsored by Linglong, the championship runs from Wednesday, October 14, to Sunday, October 18, bringing together players from schools, universities, clubs, corporate teams and veteran categories in one of Uganda’s biggest badminton events.
The record participation highlights the tournament’s growing appeal and its role in providing a platform for players of different ages and abilities to showcase their talent, test themselves against quality opposition and compete for honours.
Hebert Bashasha marketing manager city tyres
City Tyres Marketing Manager Herbert Bashasha praised the Uganda Badminton Association (UBA) for sustaining the annual competition, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting the sport.
“We take this opportunity to commend Uganda Badminton Association for this annual competition. As City Tyres, we are delighted to be part of this wonderful competition. We are proud to see that over 1,500 participants are taking part in this year’s competition,” Bashasha said.
Annet Nakamya UBA president
UBA president Annet Nakamya expressed gratitude to City Tyres for its continued support, describing the championship as an important opportunity for players to demonstrate their abilities.
“I thank City Tyres for the support they have rendered to us over the previous years until now. We have over 1,000 participants ready to showcase their talent in this special competition, and we hope for a competitive event in the coming days,” Nakamya said.
This year’s edition features an extensive range of categories, including primary and secondary school players, university students, senior competitors, veterans, coaches, professionals and corporate teams.
The under-14 Rising Star category will provide a platform for young players to develop their competitive experience, while participating institutions, including Kibuli Secondary School, will battle for honours in the school competitions.
The introduction of a Chinese category is among the new attractions at this year’s championship, joining the special Indian category and adding to the tournament’s diversity.
Beyond the competition for bragging rights, players will have tangible rewards to pursue. More than 100 trophies supplied by lead sponsor Linglong will be presented to winners across the various categories, while professional players will also compete for prize money.
The event will also offer a special attraction for participants and fans, with a mountain bike up for grabs in a raffle draw courtesy of Supreme and City Tyres.
The Mandela Group of Companies, Indian Association Uganda, Badminton World Federation (BWF), National Council of Sports (NCS) and Badminton Confederation of Africa are among the other partners supporting the tournament.
With participation spanning grassroots, institutional, recreational and professional badminton, the five-day championship is expected to deliver intense competition while strengthening the sport’s development and visibility in Uganda.
Attention now turns to the courts at Lugogo, where players will battle through their respective categories in pursuit of trophies, prize money and the prestige of being crowned champions when the tournament concludes on Sunday.