Jinja City is set to make history this weekend by hosting Uganda’s first National Chess Grand Prix tournament outside Kampala, a landmark event expected to attract top local and regional players competing for places on the national team.
The three-day tournament, organised by the Eastern Region Chess Association in partnership with the Uganda Chess Federation, will be held at the Source of the Nile Hotel from July 24 to 26. The competition is the opening event on the Uganda Chess Federation’s 2026 Grand Prix calendar and will serve as a key qualifying tournament for players seeking selection to Uganda’s team for the upcoming Chess Olympiad.
Outstanding performers will earn points toward qualification for the federation’s elite “Super 12” pool, from which the country’s representatives to the international competition will be selected. The tournament is also expected to attract players from neighbouring Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan, giving the event a regional flavour. Competition will be held in three categories: Open, Women’s and Juniors. The Open section will be contested by players of all ages, with the winner taking home Shs2.5 million.
The runner-up will receive Shs1.5 million, while the third-placed player will earn Shs800,000. In the Women’s category, the champion will receive Shs1.5 million, followed by Shs1 million for second place and Shs500,000 for third. The Junior competition will be divided into boys’ and girls’ sections. The boys’ champion will receive a trophy, gold medal, bicycle and school bag, while the runners-up will be awarded medals and school bags.
The girls’ winner will receive a trophy, gold medal, tablet, teddy bear and school bag, with the second and third-placed finishers receiving medals and school bags. Players will compete in four formats: Classical, Rapid, Blitz and Bullet chess. Eastern Region Chess Association President Abbey Mawerere said the tournament marks an important step in decentralising the sport and expanding competitive chess beyond Kampala.
He said the association hopes the event will expose more players from the region to high-level competition while promoting chess as a game that develops critical thinking, concentration and decision-making skills. “We want to take chess closer to the people. Regional competitions like this will help identify and nurture talent from the grassroots through to the national level,” Mawerere said.
Association Secretary General Allan Babani said the tournament would provide much-needed exposure for emerging players from Eastern Uganda, where chess has grown significantly in recent years. He said 25 of the region’s 40 districts are now actively involved in chess, but many players have had limited opportunities to compete against established national players or participate in structured tournaments.
Babani added that admission to the tournament will be free, and members of the public have been encouraged to attend and experience competitive chess-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
