Meet Uganda's Chess Icon, Nsubuga Haruna.
Nsubuga Haruna has become a household name in the World of chess here in Uganda with he's achievements on the chessboard speaking for themselves. The 27 year old is currently a Fide Master, a title that pushes a player two places closer to the highest ranking of Grand Master.
I met Haruna 6 years back when the universities we were studying in encountered in a chess tournament. We were playing East Africa University games which occur once every 2 years. I was representing Uganda Christian University and he was playing for Kampala International University both Universities from Uganda. We played different boards and he was the only one on he's team who scored a win against us which ended up giving us a team win over them. He's win caught my attention though as our team was strong and I didn't expect any of our players to lose. I inquired about him and I was told he is a prominent player who was playing chess at a professional level. I got close to him from then on, using our relationship majorly to learn new styles in chess and improve on my chess game.
Well I didn't go far with chess, but I occasionally play some tournaments which gives me a chance to meet Haruna. Haruna on the other hand has placed he's chess career on another level, going on to win various tournaments organised in and out of the country and represented Uganda in the 2018 Chess Olympiad, which is more like the World Cup of Chess. This journey has enabled him to rise through the ranks; attaining CM in 2014 and then FM in 2016.
At 27, I believe Nsubuga Haruna has a short at becoming East Africa's first Grand Master if he continues with the pace he's at.