This archive report was first published on 25 December 2019.
On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, the shores of Lake Victoria in Budalang'i Constituency witnessed the crowning of the champions of the Bunyala Cultural Festival men's boat racing competition.
Orada Esiya took the top spot, clocking 16 minutes, 1 second, and 77 milliseconds to win the most competitive category, which involved 13 boat rowers covering a distance of 1.62 nautical miles (approximately 3 kilometers).
Team captain George Odhiambo attributed their success to the team's resilience and the support of their supporters, saying, "Last year we did not prepare well for the competition and finished second. We started in second position but our resilience rowed us to the top. I want to thank my teammates and our supporters who pushed us to the limit," as quoted by the Nation Sport.
Other notable winners included Songa Mbele, who clinched one of its two titles in category five, and Namwanga, who won in category four.
However, the defending champions, Machinery Group, posted their worst performance in their only category after being flagged and eliminated for blocking opponents mid-water.
On a separate note, the women's race saw Songa Mbele emerge as the winners, with Namwanga Odinga and Namude Orada taking the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The event was graced by several high-profile guests, including former premier Raila Odinga, Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, and several Members of Parliament.
