Noble and Nakisozi Spearheading Rowing Renaissance in Uganda

Maroons Aqua Sports Club is at the forefront of a significant push to rebuild and elevate rowing in Uganda. This initiative is spearheaded by two influential women: two-time Olympian Kathleen Noble and national coach Batenga Nakisozi. Their collaboration merges top-tier athletic performance with dedicated systemic development, aiming to create a sustainable future for the sport.

Noble, an athlete still competing at the elite level, brings invaluable experience from international high-performance programs. She returned to Uganda after the Tokyo Olympics to reignite local rowing, organizing clinics and regattas. Her focus has shifted from personal achievement to fostering opportunities for other Ugandan athletes, a motivation that has surprisingly led her to her fastest performances yet.

Nakisozi, concurrently serving as the club’s and national coach, is instrumental in establishing the necessary infrastructure. Having joined Maroons Aqua as an athlete in 2012, she now leads initiatives to identify, develop, and retain talent. Her work includes school-based programs and outreach to refugee youth, aiming to make rowing accessible to new communities. She also contributes to the global sport through her role on the World Rowing Indoor Rowing Commission.

Both Noble and Nakisozi have gained crucial insights from coaching para-rowers internationally, highlighting the importance of comprehensive support systems including psychology, strength and conditioning, and nutrition. They emphasize the need for collaboration among clubs to move beyond passion and guesswork towards intentional development and consistent results. A recent victory was securing the release of a fleet of new boats donated by World Rowing, which had been held up in customs, a crucial step in providing the physical resources for the sport’s growth.

Looking forward, the duo identifies the need for a dedicated rowing center as the next major hurdle to consistent athlete training and boat storage. They express optimism about the emerging talent in Uganda, particularly in beach sprints, signifying a promising outlook for the sport’s future on the international stage.

Read more about their efforts at the Daily Monitor: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/other-sport/noble-batenga-rebuilding-ugandan-rowing-through-maroons-aqua-5473904