The future of Ugandan swimming will once again be on full display this weekend as more than 700 young swimmers from across the country converge at Kampala Parents School in Naguru for the fourth edition of the Hertz Invitational Swimming Gala.
This competition has rapidly grown into one of the country’s most significant junior swimming events.
Scheduled for August 1-2, this year’s gala marks an important milestone in the event’s history. For the first time since its inception in 2023, the competition will be held over two days, reflecting both the remarkable growth in participation and the increasing importance of providing quality competition opportunities for developing swimmers.
Unlike Uganda’s National Swimming Championships, which feature the country’s top-performing athletes, the Hertz Invitational has carved out a unique identity by focusing exclusively on swimmers aged 14 years and below.
According to Hertz Swim Club Chairman and Head Coach Aksam Magoola, the competition was created to provide young swimmers with an opportunity to race on a major stage, particularly those who narrowly missed qualifying for the national championships.
Instead of ending their season without meaningful competition, the gala allows these young athletes to measure their improvement, gain valuable racing experience and build confidence before progressing to higher levels of competition.
The event has become an important checkpoint for coaches as well, offering a chance to evaluate the effectiveness of months of training and identify areas for further development during the second half of the year.
The inaugural competition was held in 2023, then returned in 2024 and 2025, with each edition attracting more swimmers and clubs. Coach Magoola noted that the event has experienced steady growth over the years, with the 2025 edition drawing more than 800 swimmers and setting what he described as the highest attendance ever recorded for a swimming event in Uganda.
For the 2026 edition, organizers expect approximately 700 swimmers representing around 25 to 30 clubs, another indication of the competition’s continued popularity among clubs and swimming families across the country.
The increase in participation is one of the main reasons the event has expanded into a two-day competition.
According to Magoola, extending the gala over two days will allow the program to run more smoothly while also giving swimmers adequate recovery time between races, enabling them to perform at their highest level.
The competition caters for a range of age groups, including:
- 6 years and under
- 7–8 years
- 9–10 years
- 11–12 years
- 13–14 years
Younger swimmers compete over 25-metre distances, while athletes in the older age groups race over 50 metres and selected 100-metre events, including the Individual Medley (IM).
The program features all four competitive strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle, providing comprehensive racing opportunities across the sport.
Magoola expressed particular excitement about the 6-and-under category, describing it as one of the biggest success stories of this year’s event.
Unlike previous editions, where many of the youngest swimmers competed only in freestyle races, the 2026 programme has expanded to include butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke events, allowing first-time competitors to experience a wider range of competitive swimming.
For many of these children, the Hertz Invitational will represent their first experience competing before large crowds against swimmers from other clubs.
Uganda has established itself as one of the strongest nations within the CANA Zone III region, and Magoola believes maintaining that standard depends on continually developing young talent through regular, meaningful competition.
The Hertz Invitational therefore serves as more than just another event on the calendar—it is part of the country’s athlete development pathway, helping young swimmers become comfortable with competition long before they reach national and international championships.
Uganda Aquatics, which sanctions the competition, will oversee officiating and timing to ensure the event meets national standards for competition management and athlete safety.
Assistant captain Andrew Katumba expressed confidence that the team would challenge strongly for medals after months of training, while emphasising the club’s determination to continue improving individual performances.
Captain Clarissa Mara Sosigome said she was looking forward to seeing hundreds of swimmers enjoy themselves, make new friends and experience the excitement of competing against athletes from clubs across Uganda.
Coach Magoola identified several promising Hertz swimmers expected to make an impact during the competition.
Among those highlighted are Israel Kajura Murungi, Anouk Lwanga, Jevon Twesigomwe and Zion Namanya, all of whom recently represented the club at the Mako Sharks Summer Invitational Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, where they delivered impressive performances.
The coach believes the quartet will carry that momentum into the Hertz Invitational, where they will continue to establish themselves among Uganda’s emerging swimming talents.
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