Makerere University Wins the East African Universities Chess Championship 2024

The 2024 East African Universities Chess Championship concluded on December 20th at Maseno University – Kisumu Campus, an intense and competitive week for teams across the region. Makerere University, coached by International Arbiter Christopher Turyahabwe, emerged victorious in the Open Category, claiming the gold medal after a great team performance.

In the Open Category, Makerere University was followed by the University of Nairobi in second place and Kampala University in third, showcasing the high level of competition among the region’s top universities.

The Ladies’ Category witnessed an impressive victory by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), which secured the gold medal. Makerere University took silver, followed by the University of Nairobi in bronze position, underscoring the growing prominence of women’s chess in the region.

Notable individual performances added to the excitement of the tournament. Candidate Master Musasizi Emmanuel delivered a great performance, scoring an impressive 7.5 out of 8 on his board. Similarly, Ahereza Joan shone brightly in the Ladies’ competition, achieving an exceptional 6.5 out of 7 on her board. Their contributions were instrumental in securing their teams’ overall success.

The championship, held from December 16th to December 20th, brought together top universities from East Africa for a showcase teamwork in sports. Maseno University’s Kisumu Campus provided an ideal venue, fostering a very competitive spirit among participants

The tournament served as a platform to enhance the visibility of chess as a competitive sport in the region. Universities like Makerere, JKUAT, and Nairobi showed talent within East African institutions, reinforcing the importance of structured coaching and training programs.

As the curtains fell on this year’s championship, the success of Makerere University in the Open Category and JKUAT in the Ladies’ Category highlighted the dominance of well-prepared teams and exceptional players. With performances like those of Musasizi Emmanuel and Ahereza Joan, the future of East African chess looks bright, promising more exciting tournaments in the years to come.

Credit Samuel Were