By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus- KIU continues to impress in Karate for both boys and women having claimed Gold at the  AUUS Games hosted by Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono.  With this victory, team KIU can now classify themselves as expendables in the sport. But why always KIU?

Team coach, Patrick Muhimpundu attributed the team's incredible run of success to hard work, consistency and the pedigree they have built over the years.

"We’ve been champions for a long time, we’ve been holding the first position for long, so we are used to winning," he said in an interview on Wednesday.

Most of the players that make up the KIU Karate team have earned National team calls because of their exceptional prowess and according to Coach Muhimpundu, this pushes them to always give their best to maintain National team status.

"KIU karate team is the best because all players come from national teams (Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda) and some represent their countries on the global level and in African championships."

Despite being serial winners, this year's triumph at UCU in Mukono brought about excitement in not only the team but the whole of KIU and the team's mastermind was not spared either.

"Yes it feels good but when you’ve been champion for a long time it becomes normal, there is a little bit of excitement because our goal as KIU team; 'We always aim for GOLD," he noted.

KIU overcame fierce competition from Ndejje University to claim the top prize after gathering 10 gold and seven silver medals overall from various categories of the sport.

Below is the List of Medals per category of Karate.

1 KATA (Individual)

Two Gold medals

I) Ishimwe Sandrine

Ii) Munyaburanga jean Claude

 2. KATA (TEAM)

Both the boys and girls came second.

I) Female team (silver)

Ii) Male team (silver)

3. KUMITE CATEGORIES FEMALE

(I) UNDER 60 KG

 Two Gold and three silver medals for KIU

Uwimbabazi Naome

(i)UNDER  60 KG

Ishimwe sandrine

(ii)UNDER 68KG

Uwase Respeace

(Vi) ABOVE 68KG

Niyitegeka lucky

Famele team kumite

 4. MALE KUMITE CATEGORIES

UNDER 60KG

(I) Munyaneza flavien

UNDER 67KG

(i) Udahemuka Bertin

UNDER 75KG

(i) munyaburanga Jean claude

UNDER 84KG

(Vi) biroro pacifique°?¸¥c?¡

ABOVE 84KG

(V) musemze edwin°?¸¥c?¡

Vi) male team kumite°?¸¥c?¡

OVERALL MEN GOLD MEDALS  (7)

OVERALL MEN SILVER MEDALS   (3)

OVERALL WOMEN GOLD MEDALS (3)

OVERALL WOMEN SILVER MEDALS (4)

Note: KIU Men's Karate team were the best in the Males category (Gold) while the Women were second (Silver). When the two combined, KIU emerged overall winners to bring the Gold medal home.