Six students from Gayaza Junior School will represent Uganda at the second edition of the PANASA Africa Youth Scrabble Championship, set for August 14 to 17 at Brighton International School in Katani, Kenya.
The biennial event will draw more than 130 players aged 7 to 19 from about seven African countries, with Uganda fielding 30 players from various primary and secondary schools.
The Gayaza team — Clancy Namujjuzi, Meagan Owomugisha, Elizabeth Nakimuli, Reverie Ynez, Myra Siwoza, and Meghan Ankunda — will compete in the under-15 category. Their participation comes as the school celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.
Team coach Ronald Lwebuga said the players have put in extensive preparation, focusing on mastering key two- and three-letter words as well as calculation strategies.
“We will fight hard to ensure we return with medals,” he said. Before their departure, school chaplain Robert Ssebagala prayed for the team, while headmistress Sarah Kizito Tebugulwa urged them to maintain discipline as the foundation for success.
Head of Games and Sports, Daniel Kasawuli, said the school’s commitment to nurturing all-round talent led them to adopt the Future Stars Sports program earlier this year.
Nigeria, the defending champion from the 2023 edition, will be among the favorites.
The championship will run alongside the Presidents Cup at the Trade Mark Hotel, which will feature players from Africa, the US, UK, and Australia, with a total prize pool of $32,000 (about sh114 million).
Scrabble, which featured at last year’s Africa Games in Ghana, continues to grow in popularity, with the World English Scrabble Players Association pushing for its inclusion in the Olympics.
