Premier Bet Uganda Chess League Set to Resume on October 6, 2024.

The highly anticipated Premier Bet Uganda Chess League (PBUCL) will recommence on Sunday, October
6, 2024. This season’s champion will receive a land title, with others winning significant cash prizes. Every
interruption therefore attracts a lot of questions. The league was temporarily paused due to the passing
of Rev. Father Grimes Damien, a beloved figure in Uganda’s chess community and a pivotal advocate for
chess in education, significantly contributing to Uganda’s rich chess culture.

The Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) has experienced a packed schedule this year, with many important
events occurring in rapid succession. Details of the league fixtures can be found via the provided link.
The league recently took a brief hiatus to allow Team Uganda to compete in the World Chess Olympiad
held in Budapest, Hungary, from September 8 to September 25, 2024. This Olympiad is particularly
significant for Ugandan chess. The Chess She Cranes’ performance was the best ever, while the results
for the Chess Cranes were less encouraging.

Honoring Rev. Father Grimes, the father of Chess in Education Uganda.
H.E. Mr. Patrick Bitature, the UCF Chess Patron, was instrumental in repatriating Rev. Father Grimes’
remains from the UK, an effort that incurred substantial costs exceeding £5,000. The UCF community
expresses deep gratitude for this endeavor as they honor the memory of a cherished figure recognized
as the “Father of Chess in Schools” in Uganda. The UCF also thanks everyone who took the time to
commemorate the loss of this chess icon. May his soul rest in peace, and his final resting place become a
pilgrimage site for chess Lovers?
As the chess community begins to heal from this loss, league play is set to resume, reigniting excitement
for the sport. The Premier Bet Uganda Chess League is the largest chess league in Africa, featuring 56
clubs from Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia, with participation from players in neighboring countries such as
Rwanda and South Sudan.
The upcoming matches are expected to be both competitive and thrilling as players unite to showcase
their skills while honoring the legacy of Rev. Father Grimes. This marks the second interruption of the
league this season; the first was due to a scheduling conflict with an event in Kenya, where many young
talents participated in the East African junior Championship in Kisumu.
Following this, the league paused to facilitate national team players’ travel to the Olympiad, and
thereafter the community to mourn the loss of an iconic figure.

The UCF regrets any inconvenience caused by these interruptions, but it was crucial to pay proper
respect to the late Father Grimes.

Written by
Eng. Mwaka Emmanuel,
President: UCF