PARENTAL CARE NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL BUSHENYI FLAGGED OFF TO REPRESENT UGANDA AT WORLD YOUTH SCRABBLE CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

Parental Care Nursery and Primary School, Bushenyi, has been officially flagged off to represent Uganda at the World Youth Scrabble Championship 2026, which will take place at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, from 5–9 August 2026. The flag-off ceremony was held at the National Council of Sports headquarters in Kampala.

The flagging off was presided over by National Council of Sports_Sports officer Mr. Ivan Niwamanya who asked the youngsters to represent the Country with courage and determination.

“We know you have been trained well, stay courageous and keep focused as you compete with the best players in the world. Make the country proud,” Niwamanya said.

The head of delegation Mr. Edwin Murungi said that Uganda had deliberately selected a youthful squad as part of it’s long term plan to form a formidable team for the country.

Part of the 18 man squad that represented Uganda

National Team coach Lawrence Onyoin expressed confidence that the team would return home with medals despite facing some of the world’s most experienced Junior Scrabble players.

“We have equipped them with the necessary word strategies and game knowledge. They have improved tremendously and are ready for the challenge,” Anyoin said.

Uganda will compete in the under 13 and under 18 categories with matches beginning in the Swiss-system round robin format.

The team Captain Aarush Ethan Matsiko is optimistic about Uganda’s chances.

“I am determined to return home with a medal,” he said.

The World Youth Scrabble Championship, established in 2006 (formerly the WESPA Youth Cup), was first hosted in Wallongong Australia in the same year and is today the world’s leading Scrabble competition for players under 18. Kenya has made history as the first African country to host the event.

The championship emphasizes youth development by awarding trophies, medals, age-group prizes (Under-8 to Under-16), team awards, and special recognitions for outstanding performances such as the highest game score, highest-scoring word, best female player, and best sportsmanship.

Parental Care Nursery and Primary School earned the opportunity to compete after participating in the National Scrabble Championship at Gayaza Junior School in June 2026—the school’s first-ever Scrabble competition. Team captain Tricia Atuhaire credited their success to hard work and following their coach’s guidance, while Ethan Aarush Matsiko expressed confidence that the team is well prepared to win medals for Uganda. The championship has attracted over 3,000 eligible players born on or after 1 January 2009.