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Host county Mawokota clinched the 2026 Buganda Royal Regatta (Empaka za Amaato ga Kabaka) championship on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Bunjako Beach in Mpigi District, topping the leaderboards with 48 points to claim the grand prize bull and UGX 1,000,000.
Buweekula finished as overall runners-up to secure a goat and UGX 500,000, while Bulemezi took third place, walking away with UGX 300,000. All 18 participating counties (Masaza) received an official participation allowance for taking part in the tournament.
| Rank / Position | County (Saza) | Overall Points / Standing | Official Prize Awarded |
| 1st Place (Champion) | Mawokota | 48 Points | Championship Bull + Trophy + UGX 1,000,000 |
| 2nd Place | Buweekula | Runners-up | Goat + UGX 500,000 |
| 3rd Place | Bulemezi | 2nd Runners-up | UGX 300,000 |
| 4th Place | Bululi | 33 Points | Participation Fee |
| 5th Place | Kabula | 32 Points | Participation Fee |
| 6th Place (Tied) | Kooki | 23 Points | Participation Fee |
| 6th Place (Tied) | Mawogola | 23 Points | Participation Fee |
| 8th Place | Kyadondo | 20 Points | Participation Fee |
| 9th Place | Kyaggwe | 19 Points | Participation Fee |
| 10th Place (Tied) | Buddu | 17 Points | Participation Fee |
| 10th Place (Tied) | Butambala | 17 Points | Participation Fee |
| 12th Place | Gomba | 16 Points | Participation Fee |
| 13th Place | Bugerere | 15 Points | Participation Fee |
| 14th Place | Busujju | 13 Points | Participation Fee |
| 15th Place (Tied) | Buvuma (Busuma) | 12 Points | Participation Fee |
| 15th Place (Tied) | Busiro | 12 Points | Participation Fee |
| 17th Place | Ssese | 11 Points | Participation Fee |
| 18th Place | Ssingo | 3 Points | Participation Fee |
How Mawokota dominated the Women’s Traditional Rowing Category
Mawokota’s dominance extended into the women’s traditional canoeing division, where local teams swept two of the top three podium spots on home waters.
The She Rowers of Mawokota secured first place in the official Women’s Traditional Rowing category, beating out BusiroWinner (Busiro County) who took second place. Bunjako Sailors (Mawokota) finished third to seal a double podium finish for the host county.
What happened during the Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational?
Held concurrently with the traditional Amaato ga Kabaka canoe races, the Uganda Rowing Beach Sprint Invitational—presented by The North Green School (TNGS)—featured high-speed individual sprint competitions across 1,000-meter and 500-meter courses.
- Men’s CM1x Category:Elijah Namunyu of Maroons Aqua Sports Club set a new Personal Best (PB) of 2:32.31 to win the open men’s single scull sprint.
- Junior Women’s CJW1x Category: 14-year-old Grace Kyomuhendo representing UPDF Rowing Club delivered a standout performance, winning the junior women’s category with a time of 4:15.97.
Wild celebrations erupt as fan wins motorcycle in Bunjako Treasure Hunt
Off the water, the Bunjako Beach spectator grounds turned chaotic with excitement during the live Beach Treasure Hunt.
Revellers walked away with major prizes, including smartphones, smartwatches, designer wristwatches, and original player-version jerseys for Manchester United and Arsenal.
The climax of the fan giveaways occurred when the grand prize Boda Boda motorcycle was uncovered. The winner was overcome with such extreme emotion that he nearly lost control celebrating, prompting the Katikkiro’s security team to step in, calm him down, and safely manage the crowd.
Water rituals, royal speeches, and Afrigo Band closing performance
Spectators began arriving at Bunjako Beach as early as 7:00 AM, with official water sprints kicking off at 8:00 AM sharp.
Before the official flag-off, Jajja Gabunga, the hereditary head of the Mamba Clan, performed traditional cultural rituals on Lake Victoria to invoke the ancestral blessings required for the Mamba Clan to execute their historic Empingu (Royal Lake Guard) duties. Following the water rituals, the Katikkiro of Buganda, Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga, officially flagged off the championship races.
During the official presentation ceremony:
- Eng. Ben Immanuel Misagga (Regatta Chairman): Expressed gratitude to the Kabaka and the Buganda Kingdom administration, promising that future regatta editions will expand in scope, corporate sponsorship, and international reach.
- Oweek. Salongo Robert Sserwanga (Sports Minister): Thanked the technical teams and security forces, pledging to introduce more aquatic sports programs across Buganda’s counties.
- Owek. Charles Peter Mayiga (Katikkiro of Buganda): Handed over prizes to the winning teams and commended Lwanga Robert of Bunjako Beach for hosting the event. The Katikkiro reminded attendees that his clan and Misagga’s clan—Omutima Omuyanja—share a quiet, permanent cultural responsibility over Buganda’s water bodies alongside the Mamba Clan, urging all subjects to invest in developing the kingdom.
The historic sporting festival closed at sunset with a headline live performance by Uganda’s legendary Afrigo Band, followed by open beachside dancing that ran late into the evening.
