Sailfish Masters Gala returns to the blocks after a three-month wait

The wait is finally over.

After a three-month delay that pushed it from June to September because of the Ebola situation, the Sailfish Masters Gala 2026 is ready to make its return to the pool this Saturday, September 19, at Ambrosoli International School.

Now in its third edition, the gala brings together Uganda’s masters swimming community for a day that promises competition, camaraderie and the kind of poolside connections that have become central to masters swimming.

The programme is straightforward: swimmers will have the pool for warm-up from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, before the first races dive off at 10:00 am.

But behind the simple schedule is an event that has had to overcome an unexpected interruption.

Originally planned for June, the gala was postponed as Uganda dealt with the Ebola situation, forcing organisers to put competition on hold and give priority to public health and safety.

Three months later, Sailfish Swim Club Kampala has brought the event back to the calendar.

The Sailfish Masters Gala is built around adult swimming, a space where competition meets recreation, fitness meets experience, and swimmers of different generations can share the same pool.

For some, Saturday will be about chasing medals and faster times. For others, it will be about returning to competitive swimming, testing themselves against fellow masters swimmers or simply enjoying the atmosphere that comes with being part of a swimming community.

And that community element is very much part of the Sailfish philosophy.

The organisers describe the event as an opportunity for “good vibes, networking and great memories”, an indication that the gala is intended to be more than a collection of races.

The third edition will once again unfold at Ambrosoli International School, which provides the setting for what should be a busy Saturday around the pool.

The organisers have also assembled a broad group of sponsors and supporters behind the gala.

Ambrosoli International School, 7 Hills International School and ROKO are prominently featured among the event’s sponsors and supporters, alongside My Kids Restaurant, Yako Bank, Uteano Health Solutions and Sanlam Allianz.

Kawowo Sports is also supporting the event. The backing reflects the growing ecosystem around swimming in Uganda, where competitions increasingly require partnerships between clubs, schools, businesses, media and the governing structures of the sport.

The gala has also received official approval from Uganda Aquatics, adding national governing-body recognition to the competition.

For Sailfish Swim Club Kampala, that approval is significant as the club continues to create platforms for masters swimmers to remain active and competitive.

Masters swimming provides an important bridge between competitive sport and lifelong participation. It allows adults to continue swimming long after the traditional age-group pathway has ended and creates opportunities for former competitive swimmers, recreational swimmers and those rediscovering the sport to race again.

And somewhere between the starts, turns and finishes, the Sailfish Masters Gala will once again remind everyone that swimming does not have an expiry date.

The post Sailfish Masters Gala returns to the blocks after a three-month wait appeared first on Kawowo Sports.