Over 200 turn up as Akright chess club opens doors at Bwebajja
David GOMBE
More than 200 people turned up on Saturday at the Palm Valley Golf Course in Akright City, Bwebajja along Entebbe Road, for the official launch of the Akright Chess Club. The turnout brought together residents and non-residents of Akright City, including children, holiday makers, parents and chess lovers from surrounding communities.
The guest of honour was the Central Uganda Regional Association President Moses Nkonge who spoke about the benefits of chess for both young and old minds.
“Chess teaches the mind to think before it acts, and that habit serves a child in class just as much as it serves an adult at work,” the Federation President said. “What we are opening today is not only a chess club. It is a place where a whole community can learn to think better.”
He added that the new club fits directly into the Federation’s plans for the region.
“The Federation wants at least three chess clubs in every district in Central Uganda,” he said. “The opening of the Akright Chess Club moves us closer to that goal, and the Association will support this club to grow.”
National Team Chess Coach, Mathias Ssonko Allan, was also in attendance and spoke about the opportunity the club creates for residents of Akright and surrounding areas.
“Chess is a sport that unites people,” Coach Ssonko said. “This club will create a family here in Akright. It will bring togetherness, because the board does not ask where you come from or how old you are. It only asks you to sit down and play. The opportunity in front of these young people is very big.”
He said the game reaches far beyond the board.
“Chess will open doors to the world. I have seen it happen with several talented children, and it is a massive opportunity for the children of Akright.”
The club is guided by an acting Executive Committee led by Agnes Asobola, together with fellow founding members Counsel Mwanje Nassir, Dr. Eng. Peter Byamugisha, Pr. Asobola Frank, Nicholas Kambale and Carol Mwanje.
“We built this club on three words: inclusion, opportunity and oneness,” said Agnes Asobola. “Everyone has a seat at the board, whether you are a child taking your first lesson or a player who has been at it for years. Our doors are open to the whole community.”
The founding members said the club was built to serve the whole community, not only those who already know the game.
“We are starting with what a community needs – a place to sit down, learn and belong,” said Mwanje Nassir. “Every member who walks in here will find a coach, a board and someone to play against.”
The launch also attracted National Team chess players [Aine Atubet ] and [Akabo Mike), who said the new club will help push the game further in the country.
“A club like this one is how the game grows,” said Akabo. “The players who will represent Uganda in ten years are sitting at these boards today.”
Akright City leadership backs the club
The launch also attracted the Akright City leadership, led by the President of Akright City, Simon Kaggwa, who said residents had been excited from the moment they heard a chess club was coming.
“When our residents heard that a chess club was coming to Akright, the excitement was immediate,” the Akright City President said. “This club will be a uniting factor for our people, young and old. Our hope is that it grows into the best club in the region.”
Football academies sign up players
The launch drew interest from football academies in the area, among them Star Hearts Sports Academy. The Academy Director, Isma Mulumba, spoke about the value of chess for young footballers and signed up all the children in his academy to join the club and begin training.
“Chess makes a footballer more focused, more strategic and more resilient,” Mulumba said. “A player who learns to read a chess board learns to read a match. That is why we are bringing all our academy children to this club.”
Parents sign up children on the spot
Parents at the launch were eager to enrol their children, with many signing up before leaving the venue. Some registered children as young as three years old and were not willing to wait for a later date, saying they had been inspired by the very young players who were already playing with confidence.
An AI-powered virtual coaching platform
At the same event, the club unveiled an AI-powered virtual chess coaching platform, which members can access through the club website. The platform allows players to train and build their skills online, alongside coaching from the club’s national-level tutors.
Club officials said the platform was designed for members who cannot always be present physically, so that distance, travel or a busy week does not stop a member from improving.
Tutorials begin in October
The club will begin chess tutorials on Saturday, 3 October 2026. Sessions will run every Saturday morning from 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Palm Valley Golf Course and at the Ark Gardens, both in Akright City, Bwebajja. The month of September has been set aside for membership registration, and all new and returning members have been asked to register before sessions begin.
Coaching will be handled by a team that includes National Team Coach Mathias Ssonko Allan, a FIDE certified trainer. Club officials said the coaching line-up is one of the strongest available in the country.
Club officials said games are open to anyone who wishes to play, and that boards and pieces are provided at the venue, so newcomers do not need to bring their own set. Details of membership and training packages are available from the club.