Uganda sweeps opening matches at African Schools Chess Championship
The team of five from Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School beat Botswana’s Curro Baobab Primary School 3-1 in the opening round, then registered a similar result against South Africa’s Welgemoed Primary School.
Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School's Ronald Wabwire in action . Photo by Michael Nsubuga
Uganda started the African Continental Stage of the FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 (WSTC 2026) strongly after they won their opening matches against Botswana and South African schools at the Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
The team of five from Sr. Miriam Duggan Primary School beat Botswana’s Curro Baobab Primary School 3-1 in the opening round, then registered a similar result against South Africa’s Welgemoed Primary School.
Ronald Wabwire, Trevor Tumukunde, and Daniel Odokonyero all won their matches against Botswana’s Balang Thabani, Mannathoko Mokhaya, and Seakgosing Abale Arona, respectively, while Elvis lost to Seakgosing Kgatontle as the inaugural championship on African soil started on Tuesday.
Wabwire and Tumukunde extended their winning ways against Welgemoed’s Wolf Van Der Merwe and Charles Nel, respectively, while Juliet Asaba defeated Retief Albe and Odokonyero lost to Adiaan Vlok.
The Ugandans were due to face Namibia’s Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool on Wednesday in the second qualifying stage of the 2026 cycle, following the Asian Continental Stage in Almaty in April.
The event has brought together 26 school teams from 22 countries, all competing for a place in the Grand Final at the end of the year. The best teams will qualify directly for the WSTC 2026 Grand Final, where the continental champions will compete for the title of FIDE ISCF World Schools Team Champion 2026.
In addition to the tournament itself, participants and guests will take part in a special educational and cultural program organised in line with the Year of Chess in Education 2026 initiative.
The program will include masterclasses and lectures by leading chess players and educators; interactive workshops; and side activities promoting educational exchange and intercultural dialogue.
The Championship aims not only to identify the strongest school team on the continent but also to promote chess as a powerful educational and social development tool.