EIGHTEEN national junior team swimmers were officially sent off by National Council of Sports and Uganda Swimming Federation (USF) officials yesterday.

They are headed for Malawi where they will participate in the CANA Zone 4 Invitational Swim Gala.

The team departs Monday morning. Sam Walusimbi, who represented NCS urged the swimmers to be determined in order to fetch medals for the country.

His counter part, USF President Don Rukare called for more government support in future. The event, formerly known as the Sub Saharan Swimming Gala is slated to take place between January 1-5 in Lilongwe.

This will be the third time Uganda takes part in this prestigious international meet following their participation in events held in Zimbabwe and Zambia in the last two years.

National coaches Muzafaru Muwanguzi and Abel Ddamulira said they are sure team Uganda will return home victorious. "Our team consists of swimmers aged 8-15 years and we are sure they are the best because their selection followed various swimming trials that were organised by the Uganda Swimming Federation in June and August," said Ddamulira.

The gala will be preceded by a three day camp that will be followed by competitive events including 400m, 200m, 100m, 50m races in freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and 200m individual medley.