Centenary Bank has announced its Shs20 million sponsorship package for the second edition of the Seals Invitational Swimming Gala slated for this Thursday to Sunday at Kampala Parents School, Naguru.
Seals Swim Club Kampala, one of Uganda’s premier swim clubs, is a three-year- old parent run club with over 150 swimmers between the ages of 2 and 25.
“Centenary Bank is proud to associate with Seals Swimming Club because over the last couple of years the competition has provided a platform that has seen many budding swimmers showcasing their talent for the rest of the world to see. It should be remembered that it is through such events that athletes that represent the country across the borders are nurtured and spotted,” said Immaculate Ngulumi Manger for Branding and Marketing, Centenary Bank.
Ngulumi added, “As Centenary Bank, we are contributing shs20 million for this upcoming gala and camp. At Centenary Bank, we have a passion for the youth. We want to see a youthful society that contributes to the development of the country.”
Mr Teffiro Serunjogi, Chairman Seals Club, said this year, the gala aims to solidify gains made in attracting and providing a gala, which provides a competition atmosphere similar to galas held internationally.
“With the leaps swimmers have made over the last year, we expect many records from the inaugural invitational gala shall be broken,” Serunjogi said.
The gala has attracted more than 200 swimmers from clubs in Kenya and Uganda, which is 20% more than last year. In Uganda, Dolphins, Sharkteens, Makerere University, Uganda Christian University Mukono, Gliders, Rubaga Girls, Pirates and Seals, and from Kenya – Kisumu swim club, Otters and Makini and USIU Dolphins have confirmed participation.
Rwenzori Bottling Company has provided 40 boxes of drinking water and tents for the gala.
Seals swim club were the winners of the inaugural gala last year with 941.5 points, Torpedo from Kenya were the first runners-up with 493 points and Altona swim club from Kampala were the second runners-up with 265.5 points.
“The gala shall use a 25-metre swimming pool and events shall be swum in age groups starting with 10 and under, 11-12, 13-14, 15 & over. This gala uses a heats-and- finals format for the events. Therefore each morning, the swimmers shall participate in heats for the various events and the top 6 swimmers for each event and 2 reserves shall then participate in the finals every afternoon,” explained Serunjogi.