top of page

Phiona Mutesi is A Ugandan chess player. She grew up in the neighbourhood of Katwe, the largest of Kampala's (The countries Capital) eight slums.

One day, aged 9, Mutesi secretly followed her older brother to the Sports Outreach Institute, a 6km walk. She observed him and other children playing chess. Mutesi was curious, she'd never seen this game before. One of the missionaries, Robert Katende, welcomed Mutesi, and he and the other children taught her to play. 

She played with ferocity and courage, and whilst her over zealous game- play cost her many matches initially, her skills grew and she was soon the number one player at her local club. Mutesi's brilliance in chess led her to represent Uganda at four Women's chess olympiads, and to become one of the first titled female players in Ugandan chess history. 

Mutesi is a three time winner of the Women's Junior Chess Championship of Uganda, as well as being the first female player to win the open catergory of the National Junior championship in Uganda, in 2012, aged 16. 

Mutesi's story has been adapted into a book titled 'The Queen of Katwe: A story of Life and One Extraordinary Girl's Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster', which was later adapted into a film by Disney, named 'The Queen of Katwe'.

 

Today Mutesi is studying at Northwest University, in America, after being offered a scholarship there. She also works as a conference speaker, sharing her story and inspiring others to seize opportunities and achieve their dreams, no matter what. 

Mutesi's story is not simply that of a naturally gifted chess player. But of someone that worked incredibly hard, and used chess to help build her own life from the ground up, tackling adversity at every single step. 

bottom of page