A Festival with Purpose
On 9 October 2025, as the nation marked its 63rd Independence Day, the Uganda Gymnastics Federation (UGF) added a fresh and vibrant dimension to the celebrations by hosting the Gymnastics for All Independence Festival & Challenge at the Old Kampala Sports Arena. The event combined artistic spectacle, community spirit, and athletic competition, positioning gymnastics not just as a performance art, but as a tool for youth development and national pride.
The gymnastics event was built around the theme of Sports, Fitness and Unity. The teams started the day with an energetic aerobics session and even managed to get the crowd and coaches involved in the happiness.
The festival featured 11 teams drawn from across Uganda, along with a delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This cross-border presence added a regional flavor to the competition and fostered friendly international rivalry. Each team presented a choreographed routine emphasizing originality, entertainment value, creativity, technical merit and showmanship. The qualified UGF judges then awarded scores across junior and senior categories.
The Junior Challenge
In the Junior Category, the gold medallists were Legacy Holder’s International Christian School and FAST Gymnastics Club. Legacy Holders’ winning routine drew praise for its balance of precision, youthful energy, and inventive choreography. Their performance set a high bar early in the day.
The silver medallists were St Joseph Secondary School, Nagalama and Trinity College Nabbingo.
The bronze medallists were Trinity Primary School, Bukoto and Karuna Team.
The Advanced Challenge
In the senior bracket, Artistic Family delivered a standout routine blending acrobatics, synchronized formations, and dynamic transitions.
Their performance narrowly edged out the visiting Congolese team, which merged gymnastics elements with Lingala-inspired dance. Agaco claimed bronze in the senior field.
We also had guest performances from Gravity Defiers and GTA Breakers.
Dr. Don Rukare, President of the Uganda Olympic Committee, lauded the ingenuity and promise displayed by the athletes:
“I have seen immense talent here, and there is no doubt about the future of these gymnasts.”
He called for expansion of gymnastics in schools and better coaching support across Uganda.
Harriet Ayaa, president of the Uganda Gymnastics Federation, echoed the optimism but also cautioned about resource constraints:
“We have many talented children, but to maintain progress, we need more funding, proper equipment, and standard facilities. Our athletes perform well internationally despite limited resources—imagine what they could achieve with full support.
Context & Significance
This event has layered importance in Uganda’s gymnastics journey. Earlier in 2025, Uganda made a splash at the Gym for All International Challenge in Baku, securing multiple gold medals in its debut appearance. That international success has energized domestic ambitions and energized UGF’s resolve to build local platforms for competition and exposure.
By hosting the festival on Independence Day, UGF linked gymnastics to national identity—positioning athletic expression as part of Uganda’s cultural tapestry. The event also helped shift public perception of gymnastics: from elite competitive sport to inclusive, crowd‑friendly performance art.
Moreover, the participation of teams from outside Uganda underscores a growing spirit of regional exchange and sets the stage for future East African gymnastics collaboration.
The Road Ahead
While the festival was broadly applauded, observers and organizers acknowledged several constraints:
Facilities & infrastructure: Many clubs still train in sub-optimal settings without regulation apparatus or safe flooring.
Funding & sponsorship: Sustained investment is needed to support travel, equipment, coaching, and athlete development.
Awareness & reach: Despite good turnout, mainstream media coverage of gymnastics remains modest compared to traditional sports.
To truly leverage momentum, UGF must translate symbolic success into structural change: partnerships with schools, corporate sponsors, government backing, and regional circuit events.
Amid patriotic music and national speeches, the Gymnastics for All Festival & Challenge offered a narrative of possibility: that Uganda’s youth can flip, twist, dance, and inspire—and that gymnastics can play a role in national pride, youth empowerment, and regional sporting identity.
If UGF sustains momentum, invests in grassroots pathways, and nurtures its athletes, the day may one day be remembered not just for celebrations of past freedom—but as the beginning of a new era in Ugandan gymnastics.
A massive congratulations to Yiga Mustafa, the Head of Gym for All at the Uganda Gymnastics Federation, and the organising team for putting on this wonderful event.
