Uganda Returns to World Table Tennis Championships After 15-Year Hiatus
This historic qualification comes as a result of outstanding performances by Uganda’s top female players Jemimah Nakawala and Parvin Judith Nangonzi, whose achievements in continental and regional events have accumulated the necessary points to secure Uganda’s place in the WTTC for the first time since qualification criteria were introduced.
The Uganda National Table Tennis Team is set to make a triumphant return to the global stage as they depart for the World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) 2025 in Doha, Qatar, marking the country's first appearance at the prestigious tournament in over 15 years.
This historic qualification comes as a result of outstanding performances by Uganda’s top female players Jemimah Nakawala and Parvin Judith Nangonzi, whose achievements in continental and regional events have accumulated the necessary points to secure Uganda’s place in the WTTC for the first time since qualification criteria were introduced.
The road to Qatar was paved through several high-profile competitions held across Africa in 2024, including:
Regional Senior Championship, hosted in Uganda in April 2024, where the duo clinched Gold.
All Africa Games, held in Ghana in March 2024.
Africa Senior Championships, conducted in Ethiopia in October 2024, where the team secured a Bronze Medal, Uganda’s first continental medal in 25 years.
These milestones underscore not only the technical skills of the players but also the sheer commitment and discipline that have guided them to international success.
President of the Uganda Table Tennis Association (UTTA), Mr. Jjagwe Robert, expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the players and everyone involved in their journey, emphasizing that this achievement was rooted in “Love for the Sport, Hard Work, and Good Discipline.”
Special gratitude was extended to coaches Alvin Katumba and Tendo Mary Balyewunya for their consistent dedication to training the athletes. Also hailed was three-time Olympian Mary Musoke, a strong pillar of support for Nakasero Table Tennis Club, the training home for Nakawala and Nangonzi. Mary has been instrumental in supporting the club through coaching stipends, equipment donations, and other vital facilitation that ensure continuous and structured training.
This monumental return to the WTTC would not have been possible without the Government of Uganda, including Parliament and the National Council of Sports (NCS). Their funding and logistical support enabled the participation of the players in key international tournaments.
Mr. Jjagwe also applauded the fruitful collaboration with NCS, which continues to unlock opportunities and visibility for the sport of Table Tennis in Uganda.
The team is scheduled to depart for Doha on Friday, 16th May 2025, aboard Qatar Airways, and will return on 25th May 2025, following the conclusion of the championship. With high hopes, the Ugandan delegation will aim to make a mark on the global stage and inspire a new generation of athletes back home.
As the team prepares to compete against the world’s best, Uganda stands proudly behind them, celebrating this long-awaited return and the resurgence of Table Tennis as a beacon of national pride and international ambition.
We wish Team Uganda the very best of luck and a successful championship in Qatar.
