The Masaka Regional qualifiers of the Nile Special National Pool Open Championship produced one of the weekend’s biggest shocks as rookie Ramecca Mugwanya outplayed local favourite Henry Mbabaali to seal the top spot at Masaka Sports Club on Saturday night.
As he lost the opening frame of the final, Mbabaali slumped into his chair, grasping for water as the match paused for about seven minutes to allow him to recover before taking his next break-off. He levelled the match 1-1, but that was as close as he came to stopping Mugwanya’s surge.
Mugwanya, who had earlier crushed one of Masaka’s big prospects, Timothy ‘Boika’ Lutaaya, 5-0 in the Round of 16, carried his fierce momentum all the way to the final.
Taking the lead against one of Masaka’s most established players was shocking enough, but the manner in which he dominated the contest silenced the home crowd. The Ntovu Corner player barely put a foot wrong as he marched to a commanding win to claim Masaka’s number one slot for the grand finale.
‘It’s a great feeling to qualify for the first time. I thank my managers and fans for pushing me. My target now is to reach the money bracket,’ Mugwanya said.
To do that, he must reach at least the Round of 16 in a field of 128 players at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium on December 21, 2025.
Mbabaali, who also plays football for a regional club in Masaka, acknowledged that he struggled physically.
‘It is a shock that I’m going as number two,’ he admitted. ‘My preparations were inadequate, and I was tired in the final. I couldn’t concentrate because I was low on energy. When I saw that I was meeting Ramecca, I thought it was a sure win, but he played really well.’ Mbabaali has never progressed beyond the first round in his three previous grand finale attempts.
Teenager Simon Nsubuga, who recently finished fourth at the Genesis Juniors Championship, completed Masaka’s trio of qualifiers after sweeping veteran Lawrence Kasekende 4-0 in the third-place play-off.
Elsewhere, the qualifiers produced similar drama. At King’s Spot in Entebbe, Gideon Mawa edged home favourite Eria Kimuli 5-4 before overwhelming Isma Segujja 5-1 to cement his place as the region’s top seed. Kimuli recovered to claim third place and book his ticket to Lugogo.
In Kireka, home boy Moses Omara dominated once again, beating Steven Ddumba 5-1 in the final to seal his third straight grand finale appearance.
Earlier, he had eliminated Pool Cranes captain Rashid Wagaba 5-2 in the semifinals. Wagaba then relied on the third-place play-off, beating Rujumba to secure the final slot from Adi’s Spot.
At Amoo Bar in Namuwongo, Solomon Nkwakira topped qualifiers ahead of Ivan Kanyesigye and Allan Saava. In Iganga, Muhammed Kafeero emerged number one at Sol View, followed by Victor Waiswa and Asuman Ssozi.
In the women’s category, Soroti’s Nature Gardens delivered its own surprise as Maggie Acio defeated Kampala-based challengers to qualify as top seed to mark her debut at the grand finale.
She beat Michelle Nandawula in the final, while Debborah Ibenu, the head of Women’s Affairs at PAU, edged Rehema Nanyondo in the third-place play-off to complete the trio.
The Nile Special National Pool Open Championship qualifiers continue this weekend, with more regional centres expected to produce fresh twists.
Nile Special National Pool Open
Weekend Results
Men
Sol View – Iganga: Muhammed Kafeero, Victor Waiswa, Asuman Ssozi
Masaka Sports Club: Ramecca Mugwanya, Henry Mbabaali, Simon Nsubuga
Adi’s Spot – Kireka: Moses Omara, Steven Ddumba, Rashid Wagaba
King’s Spot – Entebbe: Gideon Mawa, Isma Segujja, Eria Kimuli
Amoo Bar – Namuwongo: Solomon Nkwakira, Ivan Kanyesigye, Allan Saava
Ladies
Nature Gardens – Soroti: Maggie Acio, Michelle Nandawula, Debborah Ibenu
Upcoming Fixtures
Regionals – Men
Friday: Paradise Bar – Jinja; Code 8 Arena – Gulu; New Edge Bar – Ibanda; Café Milano – Masindi
Saturday: Chilies Bite – Hoima; Koma Gardens – Matugga
Regionals – Ladies
Friday: iTaano Arena – Mukono
Saturday: Club Vortex – Kitgum