Uganda to host first Africa Dragon Boat Cup in 2026

December 4, 2025 in by Editor

Uganda will host the inaugural Africa Dragon Boat Cup from 1–4 October 2026, marking a significant boost for the country’s sports diplomacy and international visibility. The announcement was made by Solomon Muwonge, President of the Uganda Dragon Boat Federation, during a meeting with Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Head of Regional Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting was also attended by a delegation from the Africa Dragon Boat Federation led by its president, Ehab Gouda, and General Secretary Mary Lai. The team is in Uganda to assess preparations, certify local officials, and inspect potential venues for the continental event.

Ambassador Kabonero welcomed the development, noting that the sport offers new avenues for young Ugandans to develop their talent while strengthening the country’s global engagement. He said the event aligns with Uganda’s broader effort to use sports as a platform to build people-to-people ties, promote the country, and deepen cooperation with international partners.

According to Gouda, the 2026 competition will attract more than 500 professional athletes from at least 16 countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, and South America. The event is also expected to draw hundreds of travelling fans and millions of online viewers, giving Uganda significant exposure.

Dragon Boat racing, a traditional Chinese sport with a history spanning more than 2,500 years, now boasts more than 50 million participants globally — with China alone accounting for about 40 million players. Lai said hosting the Cup presents Uganda with an opportunity to leverage the sport’s expanding global appeal to promote tourism, investment, and trade.

Plans for venue inspection and capacity-building for local officials are underway as the country positions itself to stage the first edition of the competition on the continent.