RWANDAN SWIMMERS led by two-time Olympian Alphonsine Agahozo will be gunning for medals when the Africa Zone III and IV championship kicks off today in Uganda at Kampala Parents School.

The 10-player team departed yesterday for the Ugandan capital eager to stage a good performance at the championships organised by African Swimming Confederation as a qualifier for Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow Scotland in July this year.

"We have had intensive preparations. I am in fine form and my task is to improve on my personal best and win medals in my races,” Agahozo, who will compete in 50m freestyle, told Times Sport yesterday.

The 17-year-old competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games and also at London 2012.

Other medal hopeful athletes include; Claude Iradukunda [100m freestyle], Orsola Rwabukwandi [50m breaststroke], Eloy Imaniraguha [50m & 100m butterfly], Patrick Rukundo [50m freestyle & butterfly] and Isiaq Irankunda [50m butterfly & freestyle].

Others are: Mehboub Shantiyar [50m freestyle], Beijing Olympic athlete Jackson Niyomugabo [400m freestyle], double Olympic athlete Agahozo Alphonsine [50m freestyle], Babu Gatete [50m freestyle], and Janvier Uwimana [50m & 100m breaststroke].

Rwanda Swimming Federation (RSF) will be using the event to prepare for next month’s ANOCA games to be held in Botswana.

In the past three or so years, local swimmers have been competing in major international competitions, including the Olympic Games, but none of them has managed to clinch a medal.