Uganda will have a strong presence in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Uganda International Series, with 18 home players advancing across the women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
The hosts have secured 15 quarter-final combinations heading into Saturday’s knockout action, keeping Uganda firmly in contention for valuable BWF ranking points and a share of the US$10,000 prize purse.
Uganda’s strongest individual representation comes in the women’s singles, where four home players have reached the last eight.
Top seed Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi will face India’s Akshita Manral, while third seed Tracy Naluwooza takes on Ishita Negi of India.
Fourth seed Kruthum Nalumansi will meet India’s Aesha Gandhi, while second seed Gladys Mbabazi faces Algeria’s Yasmina Chibah.
The quartet advanced after commanding displays in Friday’s Round of 16.
Fadilah defeated compatriot Robinah Bako 21-5, 21-5, while Naluwooza overcame India’s Harshita Singh 21-5, 21-17.
Nalumansi beat fellow Ugandan Immaculate Anembabazi 21-11, 21-16, while Mbabazi dispatched Christine Fridah Mbuya 21-11, 21-7.
Uganda’s depth is even more evident in the doubles, with several home combinations guaranteed a place in the semi-finals.
In the men’s doubles, Emmanuel Kirabo and Joseph Ssonko face India’s Abhyuday Choudhary and Ayush Makhija, while fourth seeds Muzafaru Lubega and Reagan Michael Nsubuga take on India’s Manav Choudhary and Himanshu Tiwari.
The women’s doubles draw presents two all-Ugandan quarter-finals.
Christine Fridah Mbuya and Kruthum Nalumansi will face second seeds Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza, while Gladys Mbabazi and Meble Namakoye meet Robinah Bako and Vanessa Nassali.
Uganda’s Nazifa Nakiyemba and Kate Ndagire complete the country’s women’s doubles representation and will face India’s Akshita Manral and Ishita Negi.
The hosts also have significant representation in the mixed doubles, further underlining the depth of the home challenge.
Second seeds Reagan Michael Nsubuga and Tracy Naluwooza will face fellow Ugandans Kotecha Harshil Hemal and Dhruvi Sagar Dattani.
Top seeds Muzafaru Lubega and Gladys Mbabazi meet Emmanuel Ajuna and Precious Nagawa, while Joshua Ekochu and Kruthum Nalumansi face Algeria’s Mohamed Abdelaziz Ouchefoun and Linda Mazri.
Uganda’s strong showing comes after the hosts fielded the largest contingent of the four-day tournament, with 67 players among the 115 competitors drawn from 14 countries.
However, the hosts will have no representation in the men’s singles quarter-finals, leaving the country’s hopes of a deep run largely dependent on the women’s singles quartet and its numerous doubles combinations.
Women’s Singles — Quarter-finals
Aesha Gandhi (India) vs Kruthum Nalumansi (Uganda) [4]
Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi (Uganda) [1] vs Akshita Manral (India)
Yasmina Chibah (Algeria) vs Gladys Mbabazi (Uganda) [2]
Tracy Naluwooza (Uganda) [3] vs Ishita Negi (India)
Men’s Doubles — Quarter-finals
Abhyuday Choudhary/Ayush Makhija (India) [3] vs Emmanuel Kirabo/Joseph Ssonko (Uganda)
Manav Choudhary/Himanshu Tiwari (India) vs Muzafaru Lubega [4]/Reagan Michael Nsubuga (Uganda)
Women’s Doubles — Quarter-finals
Yasmina Chibah/Linda Mazri (Algeria) [1] vs Sonali Singh/Ritika Thaker (India)
Christine Fridah Mbuya/Kruthum Nalumansi (Uganda) vs Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi [2]/Tracy Naluwooza (Uganda)
Gladys Mbabazi/Meble Namakoye (Uganda) vs Robinah Bako/Vanessa Nassali (Uganda)
Akshita Manral/Ishita Negi (India) vs Nazifa Nakiyemba/Kate Ndagire (Uganda)
