As the countdown begins to the grand finale of the 2025 Nile Special National Open Pool Championship on December 21 at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, the race for the remaining qualifying spots is intensifying.
Only 45 of the 120 men’s slots remain after a series of gripping matches across the country, with qualifiers this weekend set to decide the last finalists.
This weekend will see 15 venues across Uganda hosting the final qualifying rounds. Casablanca in Wandegeya, Friends Corner Mbikko, Super Guest House in Busia, where 2012 champion Alfred ‘Blacksheep’ Gumikiriza will feature and Freedom Vybes in Arua are among the key centres. Other locations include Moyo, Gulu, Rukungiri, Mbarara, Mubuku, Busega, Mbale, Kitgum, Kisoro, and Fort Portal.
All eyes, however, will be on Itaano Arena in Mukono, where former national team captain Habib Ssebuguzi will battle for one of three coveted slots alongside veteran Allan Kayiwa and a cadre of rising stars.
The weekend qualifiers have seen intense action at venues such as Round Place in Gayaza, Vintage Lounge in Lira, Embassy Kizinda in Bushenyi, Cares Pub in Mubende, Da Chillaz in Paidha, Upper Volta in Kasubi, Kakande’s Bar in Wobulenzi, Townsend Bar in Ntinda, Prime Shooters in Mityana and Hashtag in Nansana.
Players making headlines include Conrad Mwinule, Emma Chuol, Mark ‘Wutang’ Mukiibi, Gideon Bwanika, Andrew Lukwago, Yudah Ssembuusi, Ronald Wana, Humphrey Nsubuga, Tony Ssemakadde, Johnson Yiga, Farouk Mutumba, Abubaker Nakabaale, and Mahad Mivule, among others.
Townsend Bar in Ntinda produced one of the weekend’s standout performances. Scrap Buyers’ head coach Humphrey Nsubuga crushed Johnson Yiga 5-0 in the final to secure his place in the grand finale.
Tony Ssemakadde, who beat Mustapha Bwire 5-4 in the semifinals and later lost the third-place playoff to Yiga, also advanced, ensuring that Nsubuga, Yiga and Ssemakadde will represent Townsend Bar.
Elsewhere, veteran Navy Matovu’s campaign ended prematurely at Round Place in Gayaza, where he fell to Sadat Wamala. Club 408’s Jimmy Sserugo was eliminated in the Round of 16, showing that even established players face tough competition in the qualifiers.
Weekend results
Round Place – Gayaza: Meddy Mugisha, Joseph Makeizi, Ramathan Gitta
Vintage Lounge – Lira: Solomon Ogwal, Patrick Ocen, Deo Olanya
Embassy Kizinda – Bushenyi: Conrad Mwinule, Ambrose Kahindi, George Clark Jjuuko
Cares Pub – Mubende: Drake Wasswa, Joel Ssennoga, Pascal Ssentamu
Da Chillaz – Paidha: Emma Chuol, Rogers Ocircan, Hana Mambo
Upper Volta – Kasubi: Mark Mukiibi, Gideon Bwanika, Andrew Lukwago
Kakande’s Bar – Wobulenzi: Yudah Ssembuusi, Fred Tumwesigye, Ronald Wana
Townsend Bar – Ntinda: Humphrey Nsubuga, Tony Semakadde, Johnson Yiga
Prime Shooters – Mityana: Farouk Mutumba, Emmanuel Mukisa, Abubaker Nakabaale
Hashtag – Nansana: Osman Kisubi, Mahad Mivule, Umar Katende
Ladies:
Choice Bar – F. Portal: Sharon Mirembe, Brenda Kakyo, Goretti Kabasinguzi
Oak Bar – Mbale: Zaimat Nabafu, Fauzah Namuganza, Kevin Apio (double registered)
