Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi returned to the summit of African badminton after defeating Johanita Scholtz to win gold at the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships in Gaborone on February 15, 2026.
The 20-year-old Ugandan overcame the fourth seed in a tense three-set final, winning 21-17, losing 16-21, and sealing victory 21-19 to secure her second continental singles title.
The result marked her return to the top after first winning gold in 2023 and settling for bronze in the previous edition.
Shamika showed control throughout the tournament, including a dominant 21-3, 21-10 win over Alison Bradel in the early rounds, where her consistency and composure in decisive moments were evident.
Uganda celebrated further success in the women’s doubles, where Shamika partnered with national team captain Tracy Naluwooza to win bronze.
The pair reached the semifinals but fell 0-2 to South Africa’s Amy Ackerman and Scholtz, settling for a podium finish. Husina Kobugabe added another bronze in the women’s singles to strengthen Uganda’s medal haul.
Uganda fielded a 10-player squad under coach Frank Muwuluzi, with Naluwooza serving as team captain.
The team faced early disruption after missing connecting flights, forcing withdrawal from the mixed team competition. That setback shifted focus to individual events, where the players delivered strong results despite limited preparation time.
The championships also served as qualifiers for the Thomas and Uber Cup, though Uganda missed qualification in the team category due to its absence.
Shamika’s triumph lifts confidence ahead of upcoming international assignments, including the BWF World Championships 2026 in New Delhi later this year.
Attention now shifts to home soil, where Uganda will host the Uganda International Challenge from February 18 to 22 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.
The event offers Shamika and her teammates another platform to build momentum as Uganda strengthens its position in African badminton.
