Hotel Africana’s Plaxida Malaika Nakabanda proved her class in the pool, successfully defending her women’s freestyle title at the Corporate Sports Network (CSN) Swimming Championship.
Nakabanda was among the standout performers at the October 11 championship, held at Hotel Africana in Kampala, where corporate swimmers battled for honours in a day of speed, endurance and friendly rivalry.
With the hosts under pressure to maintain their dominance from the 2025 season, rival companies arrived determined to upset the order, producing exciting finishes across the men’s and women’s freestyle races and relays.
Nakabanda rose to the occasion in the women’s 25-metre freestyle, touching the wall in 15.54 seconds to claim gold. DFCU’s Mary Akello followed in 17.26 seconds for silver, while Roofings Group’s Dorcus Nankya settled for bronze in 17.58 seconds.
Defending her crown was no easy task, Nakabanda said, explaining that she had put in considerable work ahead of the competition and refused to take victory for granted.
The men’s freestyle final was equally competitive, with Equity Bank’s Balikuddembé Mwambala taking gold in 11.90 seconds. Centenary Bank’s Ogwang claimed silver in 12.05 seconds, while a Roofings Group swimmer finished third in 12.55 seconds.
Hotel Africana also demonstrated its strength in the relay, clocking 54.34 seconds to take the top spot. Roofings followed in 59.37 seconds, with Centenary Bank finishing third in 1:02.83.
Beyond the medal chase, the championship delivered one of its most heartwarming moments through Timothy Makanga, a veteran swimmer in his 50s representing the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL).
Makanga won over spectators with his spirited participation and distinctive pink goggles, reminding the crowd that swimming is not just about speed and medals but also fitness, confidence and the joy of taking part.
His appearance brought a different kind of energy to the competition, drawing admiration from spectators and underscoring the role corporate sport can play in bringing people of different generations together.
The event attracted corporate teams including UETCL, DFCU, the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), I&M Bank, Pearl Bank, Movit, Centenary Bank, Roofings Group and Hotel Africana, among others.
The championship combined competitive swimming with networking and social interaction, reinforcing CSN’s mission of bringing companies together through sport.
