National Council of Sports (NCS) General Secretary Dr Patrick Bernard Ogwel has challenged Uganda’s badminton players to use the lessons from the Uganda International Badminton Series to raise their level and compete more strongly on the international stage.
Ogwel made the call on Sunday at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala as the 2026 Uganda International Badminton Series came to a close, with Uganda’s Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mbabazi finishing runners-up in the Mixed Doubles.
The Ugandan pair were the country’s only finalists, falling to Malaysia’s Hafiz Hakimi Hashim and Lim Xuan in the championship match.
Despite the defeat, Ogwel urged Lubega and Mbabazi and the rest of the Ugandan contingent to view the tournament as an important step in their development rather than a setback.
“Do not be discouraged by the defeat. Reaching the final against strong international opposition is an achievement, and it should motivate you to work even harder,” Ogwel said.
He commended the pair for carrying Uganda’s challenge to the final and encouraged the other players to draw valuable lessons from their encounters with opponents from across the world.
The NCS chief also praised Badminton Uganda for continuing to host international competitions, saying such events are critical in exposing Ugandan players to different playing styles, techniques and levels of competition.
“We commend Badminton Uganda for consistently organising international competitions here. These events give our players valuable experience and an opportunity to compete against players from different countries,” he said.
Uganda entered players in the men’s and women’s singles, doubles and Mixed Doubles categories, with the hosts producing several strong performances throughout the tournament.
However, Lubega and Mbabazi were the only Ugandan representatives to reach a final, underlining the gap that local players must continue working to close against established international competitors.
Mbabazi also enjoyed a notable individual campaign, reaching the women’s singles semi-finals, while Uganda featured prominently in the latter stages of several doubles events.
Series Could Move to Lira
Ogwel further revealed that the next edition of the Uganda International Badminton Series could be taken outside Kampala, with Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira emerging as a potential host venue.
He explained that the Lugogo Indoor Arena is expected to undergo renovations, creating an opportunity to take the international tournament to northern Uganda.
“Lugogo Indoor Arena is expected to undergo renovations, so we could have the next edition at Akii-Bua Stadium in Lira,” Ogwel said.
A relocation to Lira would not only provide an alternative venue during the renovation period but could also help expand badminton’s reach beyond Kampala and give players and fans in northern Uganda the opportunity to experience international-level competition closer to home.
The tournament also provided valuable BWF ranking opportunities as Uganda continues to develop its players ahead of major international competitions.
Final Standings
Mixed Doubles
Hafiz Hakimi Hashim & Lim Xuan — Malaysia
Muzafaru Lubega & Gladys Mbabazi — Uganda
Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun & Linda Mazri — Algeria
Reagan Michael Nsubuga & Tracy Nalwooza — Uganda
Women’s Doubles
Akshita Manral & Ishita Negi — India
Sonali Singh & Ritika Thaker — India
Gladys Mbabazi & Meble Namakoye — Uganda
Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi & Tracy Nalwooza — Uganda
Men’s Doubles
Hafiz Hakimi Hashim & Meng Fong Wong — Malaysia
Manav Choudhary & Himanshu Tiwari — India
Abhyuday Choudhary & Ayush Makhija — India
Andy Yew Tung Kok & Yu Sheng Lim — Malaysia
Women’s Singles
Aesha Gandhi — India
Akshita Manral — India
Ishita Negi — India
Gladys Mbabazi — Uganda
Men’s Singles
Hein Htut — Myanmar
Ali Hayati — Iran
Abhishek Kanapala — India
Victor Ikechukwu — Nigeria
