22 October 2026

Busitema University's participation in the 12th Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) Games in Cairo, Egypt, has been detailed in a post-Games report highlighting the athletes' performances, preparations, challenges encountered and recommendations for future competitions. The report provides a fuller account of the University's campaign, which saw its athletes secure two bronze medals in chess and orienteering.

The Games, held from 8 to 16 September 2026, brought together 2,082 participants from 82 universities representing 18 African countries. Busitema competed in chess, athletics, tennis and orienteering, with its athletes gaining international competitive experience despite financial and logistical challenges that affected preparations.

The University's men's chess team, represented by Rubangakene Ceaser and Byawaka Alvin Herbert, secured bronze after finishing third in the Chess Blitz Tournament hosted at Ain Shams University. The pair also finished fourth among 19 universities in the men's Rapid chess pairing competition, adding to Busitema University's achievements at the Games.

Another notable achievement came from Warom Dickline, who won bronze in the women's orienteering demonstration competition. Warom Dickline's bronze medal was also a notable achievement, as orienteering was a new discipline to the Busitema delegation, which learnt about the sport in Egypt and competed in it as a demonstration event.

The experience has since prompted the University's Sports Unit to recommend introducing orienteering in Uganda, identifying it as another opportunity for developing student talent and expanding participation in competitive sports.

Busitema also registered performances in athletics and tennis. Atim Gifty finished seventh in the women's shot put competition, which attracted competitors from 12 universities. The University's tennis players participated in both singles and doubles competitions but were eliminated in the opening round.

Although the results varied across disciplines, the competition exposed the athletes to different levels of sporting experience and provided an opportunity to assess Busitema's performance against other universities on the continent.

Building on Previous Sporting Achievements

Busitema's participation in Cairo followed a selection process that considered athletes' performances in previous university competitions.

According to a post-Games report prepared by Dr. Agnes Baluka Masajja, Deputy Chief Sports, the University's chess players were selected following their medal-winning performances at the 2024 East Africa University Games hosted by Maseno University in Kisumu, Kenya.

Tennis was included following Busitema's silver-medal finish at the 2024 FASU Tennis Slam hosted by Makerere University, while the athletics team was selected based on talent identified during inter-campus competitions, including a shot put athlete who had attained an international throwing distance.

These earlier performances informed the University's decision to concentrate on disciplines in which its athletes had demonstrated competitive potential. Preparations involved training at the athletes' respective campuses before they assembled at the main campus for a two-week training camp ahead of their departure.

On 7 September 2026, Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Waako officially flagged off the delegation, urging the athletes to uphold discipline and represent the University and Uganda responsibly throughout the competition.

The 13-member delegation was led by the Dean of Students, Mr. Joseph Wanyama Erogo, with Dr. Agnes Baluka Masajja serving as Technical Head of Delegation.

Challenges Behind the Cairo Campaign

Preparations for the Games were affected by the timing of the academic semester, which had only recently commenced. According to the Sports Unit's post-Games report, submitted to University Management on 13 October 2026, the athletes had limited time for intensive training before travelling to Egypt.

Financial constraints further complicated arrangements. The delayed release of funds affected the procurement of equipment, travel preparations and the processing of visas, while changes in flight costs placed additional pressure on the available budget.

The delegation had initially planned to obtain Egyptian visas before departure. However, delays in funding and the lengthy processing requirements made this impractical, prompting arrangements with the hosts to obtain visas upon arrival at Cairo International Airport.

The report also indicated that the available funding was insufficient to cover some expenses throughout the competition period, leaving outstanding financial obligations after the Games.

Despite these setbacks, Busitema's athletes participated in their respective competitions and secured two bronze medals, highlighting the sporting potential that the University can build upon with improved preparation and support.

Building on the Cairo Experience

Busitema University finished 42nd among the 82 universities that participated in the Games. Uganda placed 10th among the 18 participating countries, with Nkumba University winning gold in women's football and Busitema contributing two bronze medals.

The results have given the University's Sports Unit a basis for reviewing preparations for future competitions, including how athletes are selected, trained and supported.

In her post-Games report, Dr. Agnes Baluka Masajja, Deputy Chief Sports, recommended establishing a structured athlete development programme covering talent identification, coaching, equipment, competition exposure and academic support. She also called for earlier travel arrangements and better financial planning to address some of the difficulties experienced during the Cairo Games.

The report further recommended establishing a central sports database to keep records of athletes, training activities and competition results. This would support the monitoring of performance and help guide decisions on future sports programmes.

Chess and tennis remain among the disciplines in which Busitema has recorded success in previous competitions. The bronze medal in orienteering has also raised interest in the sport, prompting the Sports Unit to recommend its introduction in Uganda.

The two medals earned in Cairo add to the University's sporting achievements, while the challenges identified in the report offer practical lessons for preparing and supporting athletes in future regional and continental competitions.

Access the full report through the Busitema University Digital Repository (BDEARS)