(Article courtesy of Uganda Chess Federation)
The two leading youngsters in the East Africa Chess Championship Elija Emojong and Rajab Kamoga settled for a hard fought draw in the fifth round, which left both players in a joint lead at 4.5 points out of 5 games played so far in the event held at Hotel Africana.
Following closely are Olympians Harold Wanyama and Shadrack Kantinti who beat Robert Gatete and Samuel Edongot respectively to get to 4 points each after 5 games. Also on 4 points is Zabasajja Memorial winner Simon Gonza and veteran Joe Kaamu. Kaamu has so far put up a surprise display that culminated into beating former Olympian Emma Mwaka in the fifth round.
Burundi’s Dieudone Muheto who started off well was humbled in the fifth round by an impressive youngster James Otto.
The top 12 after five rounds are as follows:
| Rank | Name | Rating | Federation | Points |
| 1 | Kamoga Rajab | 2075 | Uganda | 4.5 |
| 2 | Emojong Elijah | 2075 | Uganda | 4.5 |
| 3 | Gonza Simon | 2075 | Uganda | 4 |
| 4 | Kantinti Shadrack | 2133 | Uganda | 4 |
| 5 | Wanyama Harold | 2152 | Uganda | 4 |
| 6 | Kaamu Joseph | 2038 | Uganda | 4 |
| 7 | Ssegwanyi Arthur | 2025 | Uganda | 3.5 |
| 8 | Kawuma Patrick | 2167 | Uganda | 3.5 |
| 9 | Bibasa Bob G. | 2175 | Uganda | 3.5 |
| 10 | Otto James | 2000 | Uganda | 3.5 |
| 11 | Muheto D | 2000 | Burundi | 3 |
| 12 | Farouk Fauz | 2038 | Uganda | 3 |