Uganda got their first win in the qualification campaign for the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket following a 72-62 win over Nigeria today in Monastir, Tunisia.

The Silverbacks despite not being the most prepared for the tournament took advantage of Nigeria’s troubles that saw the team arrive for the event barely hours before their first game.

Shooting guard Robinson Opong was the star man for the Silverbacks of Uganda pouring in a game-high 39 points and picking 10 rebounds to power the team to the win, their second over Nigeria in history.

Uganda came into the game on the back of a tough loss to Cape Verde and needed the win to stay in contention for a place at next year’s continental tournament, which if they qualify will be a fourth consecutive appearance.

Emmanuel Womala (9), Adam Seiko (7), Brandon Ssebirumbi (6), and Titus Odeke (6) were the only other top contributors to Silverback’s total in the game.

Despite a poor shooting start from both teams, the Silverbacks had a 12-7 lead at the end of the ten minutes.

The next two quarters were a bit open offensively and once Uganda expanded its lead to double figures, they never looked back despite Nigeria’s fight, especially in the third quarter.

Uganda takes on Libya on Sunday afternoon, 4:00pm (EAT).

Ronald Rugumayo made history on Friday, February 23 as he became the first Ugandan to make the cut at a DP World Tour event.

It was a priceless moment for the 31-year-old as he birdied the final hole during the second round of the Magical Kenya Open at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi.

“There are no words that I can use to express how I feel,” said Rugumayo.

“I’m so grateful for Kenyans, my fellow Ugandans who flew all the way (to watch me). Honestly, it’s not about me as a player, it’s not about Uganda, it’s about East Africa. Everything I’m doing, I’m doing for East Africa.”

This is Mayo’s third go at the Magical Kenya Open as a professional, but he participated in the 2017 edition as an amateur.

Last season, he also became the first Ugandan to hit a hole-in-one in the DP World Tour.

Michael Monne and Bridget Basiima topped the February field of the MTN Monthly Tee at Entebbe Club on Saturday.

Monne returned 68 nett to emerge the overall winner on countback.

Playing off handicap 14, Monne beat a field of 153 golfers who took part in the day-long event played at the par-71 course overlooking Lake Victoria.

“My swing was on, the approach was even better and the putting perfect,” Monne, who was also the men’s overall winner last year, said in the aftermath of the event.

Meanwhile, last year’s overall winner Bridget Basiima, playing off handicap 12, was the most outstanding lady with 69 nett.

Edith Wamala, playing off handicap 34, came second with 72 nett

Other Top Performers

National Team Player and last year’s Uganda Open second runners-up Peter Tumusiime topped the Men’s Group A. Playing off Handicap 1, Tumusiime returned 74 to beat Peter Pell on countback.

Playing off Handicap 17, Saidi Kirarira scored 69 nett to beat MTN Uganda’s Albert Gitta (Handicap 11) on countback to top Group B while Emmanuel Mugabi won Group C followed by Drake Tukamuhabwa.

February 2024 Top Performers

OVERALL WINNER

• Michael Monne 68 nett c/b

GROUP A MEN

• Winner: Micheal Tumusiime 74 nett c/b
• Runner Up: Peter Apell 74 nett

GROUP B MEN 

• Winner: Saidi Kirarira 69 nett c/b
• Runner Up: Albert Gitta 69 nett

GROUP C MEN

• Winner: Emma Mugabi 68 nett c/b
• Runner Up: Drake Tukamuhabwa 69 nett

LADIES

• Winner: Bridget Basiima 69 nett
• Runner Up: Edith Wamalwa 72 nett

SENIORS (55+)

• Winner: Jamil  Maningi 76 nett c/b

GUESTS

• Winner: Ivan Ssettimba 68 nett

The second MTN Monthly Tee tournament of 2024 takes centre stage this Saturday at Entebbe Golf Club.

The first group will tee off as early as 7:40 am with Brian Cable, Sean Kinsela, Dejan Stepanovic and Mathias Kalule taking the course.

Ladies’ favourite, Bridge Basiima will tee off at 8:40 am alongside Peace Hellen, Patricia Basaza, and Diana Akankwatsa.

Michael Tumusiime who was part of Uganda’s National Team that drew with Kenya in the Victoria Cup earlier this month tees off at 10:40 am alongside Moses Mukiibi, Allan Akira and Paul Nuwagaba.

Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei is focused on winning 10,000m gold at the Paris Olympic Games later this year.

The multiple world champion over the distance is yet to win gold at the Olympics with his best being a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

With only 10,000m Olympic gold missing in his senior international races, the world record holder who made a Marathon debut in Valencia last year is looking forward to winning in Paris.

“2024, it’ll be 10 years running internationally. 10 years at a high level.

“I’m still in love with the 10,000m, the special distance. I still want to go to Paris and win,” Cheptegei told World Athletics.

It should be noted that only Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie have won more world 10,000m titles than Cheptegei. Both won two Olympic golds in the event.

Cheptegei will head to the French capital hungry to find his first gold medal in the event.

Black Pirates got the better of KOBs on Saturday afternoon at King’s Park winning 24-20 to get into the winning column on Matchday Two of the National Rugby Championship.

Winger Arnold Atukunda scored a try in either half to add to Muhammad Haruna’s and Sydney Gongodyo’s fivers to get the Pirates’ first win of the season.

Both teams needed a victory from the fixture having suffered away defeats on the season-opening weekend.

Haruna opened the scoring with a short show-and-go, and a few moments later, the Pirates were back in with a try through their eighth man Sydney Gongodyo. Fly-half Ivan Magomu converted to bring the game to 12-00.

The KOBs got on the board with youngster Rasul Abiriga converting a penalty but the Pirates would shortly be back in the try-scoring business as Haruna set up speedster Atukunda in the corner for try number three for the Sea Robbers.

Despite being a man down, KOBs dug deep for a typical prop’s try from Saul Kivumbo. Abiriga converted before adding a penalty moments later to send the game into the break with just. four points behind (17-13).

After a closely contested opening minutes of the second half, Atukunda found room to extend Pirates’ lead but the versatile Alhaji Manano caught the Sea Robbers napping to score at the posts and create a tense finish to the game the hosts hung on for victory.

Matchday 2 Results

• Pirates 24-20 Kobs
• Rams 06-18 Mongers
• Heathens 39-00 Warriors
• Rhinos 30-20 Impis
• Eagles 05-21 Buffaloes
• Walukuba 28-39 Hippos

Rachael Zena Chebet and Jacob Kiplimo claimed the National Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Tororo Golf Club.

Chebet, a Prisons Athletics Club athlete, crossed the finishing line in 32 minutes and 59 seconds to win the women’s 10km category.

Joy Cheptoyek (Arua Athletics Club) and Loyce Chekwemoi (Uganda Wildlife Authority) finished second and third respectively.

Meanwhile, World Champion Jacob Kiplimo topped the men’s senior race. The UWA athlete secured the 10km race victory in 29 minutes and 3 seconds.

Dan Kibet (Uganda Prison Services) followed in the second position as he crossed the finish line 6 seconds after Kiplimo followed by teammate Hosea Kiplangat who finished in 29 minutes and 14 seconds.

Uganda’s team will camp in Kapchorwa starting next week in preparation for the World Cross Country championships scheduled for March 30th, 2024 in Belgrade Serbia.

Ndejje University Angels and Kampala Rockets served a thriller in the National Basketball League on Saturday night at YMCA in Wandegeya.

Kampala Rockets, looking for their first win of the season, led by as many as 22 points in the opening half but Ndejje came out guns blazing in the second half to nick the game 86-84.

The Rockets got off to a flying start running out to a 30-14 lead after the opening ten minutes and edged the second 22-20.

However, after the break, Ndejje came back strong and started to chip away at the deficit taking the third quarter 27-18.

The Angels tied the game later in the fourth quarter and scored the basket to win the game with under a minute to play.

James Obrack led the way for Ndejje with 22 points, Christian Ndibu added 20 points and 10 rebounds while Benon Wobusobozi (18 points) and Cikom Monybai (13 points) also scored in double figures.

Puati Ozias Kikomba netted a game-high 25 points and pulled down 16 rebounds in a losing effort, Francis Kasinde had 18 points and 7 rebounds, Simon Ola added 16 points and Chris Shamamba contributed 14 points.

National Basketball League defending champions City Oilers continued with their strong start to the season dispatching Our Savior on Wednesday night at the MTN Arena.

The Oilers registered a 74-38 win over Our Savior to make it two wins in as many games with a 30+ winning margin.

While they were not fluid, Oilers (2-0) controlled the game from start to finish. as. Our Savior struggled to score the basketball and also folded under pressure committing too many turnovers.

Oilers, chasing their tenth straight championship in as many seasons, won the opening quarter 23-10 and the signs for a blowout were vivid.

At the halftime break, the lead was up to 24.

Fayed Bbale who forced most of the turnovers made seven steals to go with a game-high 14 points. Edrine Walujjo (13) Titus Lual (11) and Ivan Muhwezi (10) also scored in double digits for the victors.

Moses Mugisha scored 9 points for Our Savior who suffered their first defeat. Joel Acumar had 7 points.

In the women’s division, KIU Rangers beat Magic Stormers 76-57 on skipper Ines Kanyamunza’s return. The shooting guard tallied 22 points and got support from Rose Amaniyo (15), Sharon Kirabo (14), and Liz Akol (13) came in handy.

New York Red Bulls II have signed Uganda Cranes midfielder Steven Sserwadda to an MLS NEXT Pro contract.

The club announced today (February 6, 2024) that Sserwadda who has been out since April last year following surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee will be continuing with the organisation.

Sserwadda who will be entering his fourth year at the club has made 18 appearances since his debut for Red Bulls II on October 15, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Rowdies. In that span, Sserwadda tallied two goals and one assist.

“We have the complete belief in Steven as a person and as a player to overcome his major injury”, said Head of Sport Jochen Schneider as quoted by the club website. “We want to be there with him while he returns to the form we know he can achieve when he has fully recovered.”

The midfielder has appeared in five matches for Uganda Cranes, three of which being starts. Sserwadda made his Cranes debut on March 25 against Tajikistan.

“Steven is a talented young player that has an incredibly useful skillset in the midfield,” said Head Coach Ibrahim Sekagya who is a former Cranes captain. “We have seen how he can thrive within our system, and we cannot wait to have him back in the squad.”

The New York Red Bulls II are preparing for the club’s second season in MLS NEXT Pro.