URA continues dominance in Ugandan Chess League!

Moses Mugalu, "URA wins 4th League Title," The Monitor, 22 October 2002 (Kampala, Uganda).

Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has won a fourth consecutive National Chess League title. URA wrapped up the 2002 championship after beating Uganda Commercial Bank Ltd (UCBL), one of the closest challengers 3.5-0.5 in the last round (11th) match played last Sunday. URA finished the league unbeaten (in 11 rounds) with 31 points.

The star-studded champions fielded a consistent team of Olympians Grace Nsubuga, Stephen Opio, Ignatius Wanderema and Stephen Kawuma. And that probably explains tax collectors' incredible march-up to four titles in a row after they ended Kawempe's 10-year dominance in the national competition. "They (URA) are a strong side with some of the best players in the country," Daniel Nsibambi, the chairman of Uganda Chess Federation (UCF) said.

In Sunday's match, Peter Maguzi was UCBL's hero as he pick half-point by holding Grace Nsubuga on Board One. Maguzi had stepped for veteran Joachim Okoth. Makerere University turned spoilers as they beat Luzira 3-1 in a match that the latter wanted to win by 4-0 and catch up on URA for the title. Luzira went into the match with 21 points and two games in hand. Isaac Munanira, one of the six players on the national team led Makerere's onslaught by beating Luzira's top rated player and former champion Bob Bibasa on Board One.

In the other 11th round matches played, Mengo beat King Slayers 2.5-1.5 while Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) stopped 3.5-0.5 for the major upsets on the last day of the league.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 22 October 2002