Fourteen nations have converged at Lugogo Indoor Arena for the 2026 Uganda International Series starting on Thursday.
The four-day tournament has attracted 115 elite athletes hunting crucial ranking points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Hosts Uganda field the largest contingent with 67 players eager to exploit home advantage on familiar courts.
India brings the biggest foreign delegation with 16 players followed by Malaysia with eight and Algeria with six.
Nigeria have entered four athletes while Iran Bangladesh Luxembourg and Myanmar each have two representatives.
South Africa Germany Kenya Nepal and Sri Lanka complete the international field at the Badminton World Federation sanctioned event.
The tournament follows the recently concluded Kampala International Future Series keeping players in continuous competitive rhythm.
Uganda collected six medals at last year's edition highlighted by a silver in women's doubles for Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi and Tracy Naluwooza.
The pair lost the final 2-0 to Switzerland's Jenjira Stadelmann and Leila Zarrouk at the same Lugogo venue.
Bronze medals came through Husna Kobugabe Muzafaru Lubega Meble Namakoye and Shamsa Mbira across doubles categories.
Uganda's 67-player squad now faces pressure to convert home advantage into another substantial medal haul this week.
Every match represents a critical stepping stone on the road to Los Angeles 2028 for all 115 athletes competing.
Participating nations and player numbers
- Uganda: 67 players
- India: 16 players
- Malaysia: 8 players
- Algeria: 6 players
- Nigeria: 4 players
- Iran: 2 players
- Bangladesh: 2 players
- Luxembourg: 2 players
- Myanmar: 2 players
- South Africa: 1 player
- Germany: 1 player
- Kenya: 1 player
- Nepal: 1 player
- Sri Lanka: 1 player
Uganda medals at 2025 edition
- Silver: Women's doubles, Fadilah Shamika Mohamed Rafi & Tracy Naluwooza
- Bronze: Husna Kobugabe, Muzafaru Lubega, Meble Namakoye, Shamsa Mbira
Source: Kawowo Sports
