Uganda’s 17-year-old rower Marcel Andrew Otim completed his campaign at the 2026 World Rowing U-19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, gaining valuable international racing experience against some of the world’s leading junior rowers. He will represent Uganda at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where he will compete in Beach Sprint Rowing. His preparation has already included international Beach Sprint competition in Portugal in July, followed by the World U19 Championships in Plovdiv. Otim rowing in Bulgaria during the world rowing U-19 championshipsDespite the change in discipline, Nakisozi says the World U19 Championships have formed an important part of Otim’s preparation for Dakar rather than representing a separate programme. Uganda Rowing now shifts its focus towards preparing Otim for the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, in October.