Mbale Tigers Table Tennis Club Makes Historic Win at 2025 SUMOAC Tournament in Nairobi
This year marked Mbale Tigers’ debut at the prestigious annual SUMOAC competition, yet their performance was nothing short of spectacular. The club dominated multiple categories, bringing home a total of five medals across the team and individual events, including gold in the team event, Boys Under-18 category, and Ladies Singles.
In a stunning display of skill, discipline, and teamwork, Uganda's Mbale Tigers Table Tennis Club etched its name in the annals of East African sports by emerging as the overall winners at the 2025 SUMOAC Table Tennis Tournament held in Nairobi, Kenya. The tournament took place over the weekend of May 24th to 25th and attracted top talents and clubs from across the region.
This year marked Mbale Tigers’ debut at the prestigious annual SUMOAC competition, yet their performance was nothing short of spectacular. The club dominated multiple categories, bringing home a total of five medals across the team and individual events, including gold in the team event, Boys Under-18 category, and Ladies Singles.
Mbale Tigers showcased their depth and quality by winning in the following categories:
Team Event: Gold – featuring standout players like Namiiro Swabrah, Juma Wabugoya, and Derrick Kipchumba.
Boys U18: Gold – Juma Wabugoya Silver – Clement Magomu
Ladies Singles: Gold – Namiiro Swabrah Bronze – Mercy Kakai
Mens Singles: Semi-Finalist – Derrick Kipchumba
U18 Girls: Winner – Namiiro Swabrah Semi-Finalist – Christine Mutheu
The team’s remarkable achievements earned them the Overall Winner’s Trophy, marking a historical first for a Ugandan club in the SUMOAC tournament.
The tournament also highlighted individual brilliance, with:
Derrick Kipchumba being named Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Christine Mutheu and Bakkabulindi Isaac awarded Most Promising Players
Their recognition not only spotlights the personal talent fostered by the club but also reinforces the strength of Mbale Tigers’ youth development program.
The Mbale Tigers’ triumph serves as a compelling reminder of the power of sports to transform lives. The club's success is not only a win on the table but also a call to action for parents, educators, and the wider community to support children in pursuing sports like table tennis. Engaging in such activities builds discipline, mental resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills that serve young people well beyond the sports arena.
As celebrations continue back home in Mbale, this victory is expected to boost interest in table tennis across Uganda and inspire a new generation of players.
With this milestone achievement, Mbale Tigers Table Tennis Club has firmly positioned itself among the elite clubs in East Africa. The team’s leadership now eyes further regional and international tournaments, with plans to expand training programs, attract sponsorships, and enhance facilities to nurture even more talent.
The 2025 SUMOAC Tournament will be remembered not just for the thrilling rallies and closely fought matches, but for the rise of a Ugandan powerhouse—Mbale Tigers—that roared loudest on the regional stage.
