Photos provided by Women in Chess
As part of our community-based non-profit initiatives, the foundation actively supports community-based sports programs which foster collaboration and create opportunities for individuals within our communities to acquire valuable skills.
Therefore, for International Womens Day 2023, we partnered with Women in Chess Uganda to host the Women in Chess Tournament at Gloria Gardens – Namugongo. 60 top female players competed in this invitational event to promote women’s participation in chess.
For a long time, chess tournaments in Uganda have had little participation from girls and women despite similar levels of participation when learning the game in school. Women in Chess is an initiative that aims at bridging that gap by hosting women-only competitions.
Led by Amoko Ivy and Nannozi Peninah, Women in Chess organized the 1st edition of the women’s rapid chess tournament. The tournament ended with 31 participants and was sponsored by the FG Foundation, Finance Trust Bank, UAP Old Mutual Insurance, Lycamobile, Mango Tech Solutions, Dr. Albert Otete, Gambit Chess Club and the Uganda Chess Federation.
In her opening speech Joanne Katushabe, the Marketing Manager, Communications & PR at Finance Trust Bank stated that they were pleased to support the tournament as it ties into their broader strategy of enabling women to take up spaces in which to showcase their skills and creativity.
The tournament engendered fierce competition, and the winners were Namaganda Christine (third place), Nansubuga Gloria (second place), and Mugidde Safinah (first place). These exceptional players not only received cash prizes but also earned the honor of winning the tournament’s trophies.