The MTN Grand Tee of Tees takes centre stage at Entebbe Golf Club on Saturday, 16th December with at least 200 golfers expected to take the course in the ultimate round of the year.

Going into the final round of the year, Michael Mone looks odds on to win the Men’s overall title as he leads the order of merit with a Nett score of 805 from rounds and 569 from the best 8 rounds.

In second place is Adoch Luwum who has played ten of the eleven rounds returning a nett score of 724 and 571 from his best 8 rounds.

Peter Apel who has played all the eleven rounds closely follows in third place. Apel has a total nett score of 799 and matchesLuwum in his best 8 rounds with 571.

Meanwhile, the order of merit in the Women’s Category is tighter. Bridget Basiima who has played all eleven rounds leads with a nett score of 820 and 576 from her best 8 rounds.

Maxi Byenkya is a close second with 835 after 11 rounds while her best 8 totals to 580.

In third place is Maureen Akura who has played 10 rounds with a total nett score of 738 and 581 from her best rounds.

It should be noted that CFAO Motors, the co-sponsors of the MTN Monthly Tee, have staked a brand new Landcruiser 300 for a hole-in-one at the par-3 Hole 8 during the Grand Tee of Tees.

Tee Off Time

Order of Meritt leader Mone will tee off at 9:10 a.m. alongside Jimmy Adiga, Peter Kagumya and club chairman Jacob Byamukama. Second-placed Luwum will tee off at 7:20 a.m. along with Joseph Adrapi, Harry Hakiza and Emma Tayebwa while third-place Apel tees off at 12:30 p.m. along with Charles Odere, Samsom Agamire and James Eyul.

Women’s order of merit leader Basiima will tee off at 7:30 a.m. along with Evelyn Atukunda, Johnson Dairo and Obitre Gama, second-place Byenkya tees off at 9:00 a.m. alongside Morgan Otile, Herbert Opolot and Jonathan Bakwega while third-place Okura tees off at 9:20 a.m. alongside Jordan Byarugaba, Ivan Setimba and Stephen Magero.

MTN Grand Tee of Tees Draw

Uganda remained perfect at the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Entebbe to complete the group stage of the tournament unbeaten after a win over Nigeria.

The Victoria Pearls beat the West Africans by six wickets on Thursday afternoon.

As was the previous two games, Uganda’s skipper Consy Aweko won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that had worked in their favour against Rwanda and Namibia.

Uganda’s bowling attack of Evelyn Anyipo and Aweko straight away threw ropes around Nigeria’s opening pair of Ester Sandy and Salome Sunday.

Nigeria survived the first three overs but wheels fell off in the fourth over with Anyipo bowling out Sandy and Peculiar Agboya while Immaculate Nakisuyi completed the run out of Piety Lucky.

All rounder Janet Mbabazi got the wicket of Sunday as Victoria Pearls gave up just 21 runs in the power play, their best performance in the first six overs at the tournament thus far.

Nigeria limped through the next seven overs without losing a wicket but the Victoria Pearls were giving away much and in the fifteenth over, Sarah Akiteng picked a couple of wickets.

Aweko picked the rest of the wickets as Nigeria ran out of resources at 63/9.

In the chase, Proscovia Alako16(29) and Kevin Awino 23(36) put on an opening stand of 36 before Awino was caught at midwicket off the first ball of the ninth over.

Stephanie Nampiina and Ritah Musamali fell cheaply but Janet Mbabazi 9(16) stayed on till the end along with Immaculate Nakisuyi to knock off the deficit in the 14th Over.

In the semifinals, Victoria Pearls will take on Tanzania on Satuday.

Match Summary: Malawi vs. Uganda

• Malawi 91/6
• Uganda 92/3
• Uganda won by 7 wickets with 45 balls remaining

After suffering their first-ever defeat to Rwanda in a T20i, the Cricket Cranes of Uganda bounced back with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Malawi at Willowmoore Park on Wednesday.

Malawi skipper Moazzam Baig won the toss and elected to bat first with Donnex Kansonkho 41(58) and Gift Kansonkho 38(42) as they set a moderate 95 for loss of five wickets.

Henry Ssenyondo 3/19 and Bilal Hassun 2/8 got the wickets for Uganda with the other coming through a run out effected by skipper Brian Masaba.

In the chase, Ronak Patel who was playing his first game at this year’s ACA T20 Africa Cup fell in second over and was followed by Roger Mukasa who was trapped lbw by Baig in the fifth.

Simon Ssesazi 14(16) followed Mukasa to the hut shortly after with Uganda at 37.

However, Robinson Obuya 36*(27) and Kenneth Waiswa 20*(15) completed the run chase for the Cricket Cranes who are looking to defend the T20 title.

Uganda returns to action on Friday afternoon against Mozambique in the last group game.

• Match Summary: Namibia vs Uganda
• Namibia 92 all out in 19.5 Overs
• Uganda 93/6 in 18.4 Overs

Victoria Pearls secured a second win at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, beating Namibia by four wickets at Entebbe CricketOval on Tuesday afternoon.

As was the case in their first game, captain Consy Aweko won the toss and elected to field first.

Irene Alumo gave away 12 runs in the opening over but Evelyn Anyipo arrested the slide with a one-run second over but Namibia was in control in the power play.

However, Anyipo got the better of Suné Wittmann 17(23) who put the ball in the air for an easy catch by Immaculate Nakisuyi.

Aweko introduced herself in the attack for the seventh over and got the rewards for the Victoria Pearls with the wicket of Juriene Diergaardt.

From that point, runs dried up for Namibia as youngster Lorna Anyait 3/19 complemented her captain in the slow overs and Namibia were limited to 92/9 with a ball to spare.

The chase for Uganda was not swift with Rita Musamali (16), Kevin Awino (13) and Janet Mbabazi (15) not punishing bad balls but rather getting dismissed.

However, Aweko stepped up to knock the winning runs for her team to complete a player-of-the-game performance along with another youngster Malisa Ariokot (9)

The win means Victoria Pearls advanced to the semifinals of the tournament with a group game against Nigeria to spare. The game against the West Africans will be played on Thursday afternoon.

The semifinals for the 2023 MTN Busoga Masaza Cup are set as Busiki, Kigulu advanced to complete the last four of the annual tournament in the Kingdom.

The last two quarterfinal clashes took place on Monday and the lunchtime kickoff witnessed a tactical battle between two-time champions Kigulu and tournament underdogs Buzaaya.

In a highly entertaining goalless draw, both teams squandered several goal-scoring opportunities, with Buzaaya missing two clear chances in the early first 30 minutes.

Kigulu’s goalkeeper John Collins Wesonga was the hero during the penalty shootout, saving three penalties and securing a 3-2 shootout win over Buzaaya.

Kigulu’s head coach Siraj Bogere reflected on the match, stating, “We were spot on today despite both teams playing a defensive approach.”

In the later kickoff which was also the last quarterfinal fixture, Busiki secured a 1-0 victory over Bunha thanks to a 65th-minute goalkeeping error by Bunha’s Lazarus Obulejo, who failed to deal with Alimansi Bidondole’s long-range free kick.

Despite the setback, Bunha’s coach, Ronald Lukungu, remained optimistic, saying; “It’s a big setback to lose in that fashion, but we shall come back stronger next year.”

Semifinal Clashes

The semifinals are scheduled for December 15 at Bugembe Stadium and promise to deliver more excitement.

Butembe will face Kigulu in the lunchtime kickoff at noon while Busiki takes on Bugabula at 3 pm.

The winners will earn the right to battle for the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup in the final on December 30 at Kakindu Stadium.

ACA T20 Africa Cup: Uganda vs. Rwanda Match Summary

• Rwanda 115/9
• Uganda 114 all out
• Rwanda won by one run

The Cricket Cranes of Uganda started the ACA T20 Africa Cup defence with a one-run defeat to Rwanda at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, South Africa on Monday.

Uganda’s captain Brian Masaba won the toss and put Rwanda to bat.

Rwanda put in a better shift than they did at the T20 World Cup Qualifiers a couple of weeks ago setting a modest 115 for loss of nine wickets with Zappy Bimenyimana 20(11) and Hamza Khan 19(15) the major contributors.

Henry Ssenyondo 3/12 was the star with the ball for Cricket Cranes picking three wickets and giving away just 12 runs during his bowling spell.

Jonathan Ssebanja, returning to the Cricket Cranes after a while, was generous with the ball giving away 43 runs but picked two wickets.

In the chase, Cricket Cranes never got going as they lost wickets cheaply and in clusters.

Roger Mukasa, Robinson Obuya and Dinesh Nakrani all fell cheaply but Simon Ssesazi tried to forge a partnership with Kenneth Waiswa that never lasted as Ssesazi departed shortly.

Alpesh Ramjan who came in at six lost Waiswa cheaply through a run-out and the captain came in and departed shortly after leaving Uganda reeling at 83/6 after 12 overs.

Cyrus Kakuru went with the first ball faced and was followed by Bilal Hassun with Uganda 95.

Sebanja came in and tried to see out the game alongside Ramjan who was set but he couldn’t withstand the medium pace of Martin Akayezu in the final over who cleaned him up and Henry Ssenyondo with two runs required for the win.

The Cricket Cranes return to the drawing board and need to win the games against Malawi (Wednesday) and Mozambique (on Friday) for a chance to continue with the title defence.

Victoria Pearls started the T20 World Cup Qualifiers campaign with a six-wicket win over Rwanda at Entebbe Cricket Oval.

All rounders Janet Mbabazi and Ritah Musamali were the stars of the afternoon for the Ugandan side.

Uganda’s skipper Consy Aweko won the toss and elected to field first but Rwanda got off to a good start with Merveille Uwase 35(25) taking on Victoria Pearl’s bowling attack of Irene Alumo and Evelyn Anyipo in the power play.

However, the introduction of Mbabazi changed the game for Uganda as she picked the important wicket of Uwase and the wheels went off for Rwanda.

Youngster Lorna Anyait along with Aweko’s slow overs dried up the runs for Rwanda eventually running out of resources at 87/5.

The chase for Uganda didn’t get off to a good start as Proscovia Alako quickly departed and was shortly followed by Kevin Awino and Stephanie Nampiina.

Musamali 31(29) and Mbabazi 32(37) were stuck in and the departure of the latter never caused any trouble for the hosts, with immaculate Nakisuyi coming in to eventually rcomplete a six-wicket win with 4 overs to spare.

Uganda returns to action on Tuesday against Nigeria.

Bugabula and Butembe emerged victorious in the MTN Busoga Masaza Cup quarterfinals played on Saturday, setting the stage for an electrifying semifinal showdown.

Bugabula chiefdom pulled off a stunning upset as they eliminated defending champions Bukooli Namayingo in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout. The match ended in a scoreless draw after regulation as both defences stood firm against their opponents’ attacks.

In the dramatic shootout, Bugabula showcased their composure, converting four spot-kicks through Ayasi Ssozi, Budala Manyete, Owen Mawejje, and Rashid Mwanje.

On the other hand, Bukooli Namayingo’s captain Levis Barasa Okello and Derrick Mangeni were on target but their dreams of a title defence were dashed as Fahad Kyeyune and Mikel Kiiza missed their kicks from the penalty mark, resulting in a 4-2 defeat.

Bugabula’s head coach Ashraf Lukoza expressed his excitement and gratitude to the fans, declaring his team’s readiness to contend for the title.

“We have become stronger and a better team. Now that we have eliminated the reigning champions, this group is just capable enough to challenge for the title,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bukooli Namayingo’s coach George Ivan Wamalwa graciously acknowledged his team’s defeat.

“Our opponents were equal to our challenge; we were unlucky today. We wish them well,” he said.

In another pulsating quarterfinal encounter, Butembe secured a semifinal spot thanks to a 2-1 victory over Bugweri.

The 2017 champions displayed their prowess early in the match with forward Tonny Tulituka giving them a 1-0 lead after 15 minutes.

Bugweri had a few chances in the first half, but Butembe’s resolute defence that featured Mikel Abasa, Maurice Isabirye, Isa Balaba, and Davis Asante held firm.

In the 75th minute of the game, second-half substitute Kenneth Oboya extended Butembe’s lead to 2-0. Despite Bugweri’s late response with a goal from William Okello in injury time, Butembe held on for a hard-fought 2-1 victory.

Butembe’s head coach Afan Ikoba commended his players for sticking to the game plan.

“My players really stuck to my game plan of reducing our opponents to a few chances,” Ikoba said.

Meanwhile, Bugweri’s coach Kenneth Kaluuba conceded defeat and cited a challenging day in the office but expressed optimism for the next year.

“It was a bad day in the office today due to bad luck, but we shall come back stronger next year,” said Kaluuba.

Mandy Juruni has been appointed the new Head Coach for Kepler Basketball Club.

A celebrated coach in the African game with 12 top-tier league titles (10 men) in Ugandan basketball, Juruni takes a wealth of experience to Kepler having coached both men’s and women’s basketball teams.

His journey is highlighted by multiple triumphs, including leading the City Oilers to multiple Uganda League Championships between 2012 and 2023 and winning the Zone V Championship in 2017 and 2019.

On the national stage, Juruni served as the head coach for the Uganda National Team during the Afrobasket championships in 2015 and 2017 and for the World Cup Qualifiers in 2018 and 2022.

“I am excited to join the Kepler family and look forward to leveraging my experience to build a robust and competitive basketball program here. My goal is to not only win games but also to develop well-rounded athletes who excel both on and off the court,” Coach Juruni stated as quoted by the club website.

René Sahabu, Associate Director of Sports at Kepler, highlighted the significance of Juruni’s appointment.

“We are proud to have Coach Mandy Juruni onboard. His proven track record and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our mission to nurture top-tier athletic talent. We believe his leadership will be central in propelling Kepler’s basketball program to new heights,” he said.

Accredited by the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA) in December 2022, Kepler Basketball Club graduated to Rwanda’s basketball elite Division 1 for the 2024 season after a successful 2023 season.

Cricket Cranes will be in action against Kenya on Wednesday afternoon as they continue the hunt for a place at next year’s T20 World Cup.

The Ugandans still have destiny in their own hands as all they need is to win their last two games to qualify for the tournament that will be hosted by the USA and West Indies.

Uganda, like Kenya, has played four games, winning three and losing one – coincidentally hosts Namibia – which makes the contest very important for either side.

A win for Uganda will take Cricket Cranes’ chance of making the World Cup for the first time in the high 90s given their last opponent is Rwanda.

Interim head coach Jackson Ogwang could recall veteran spinner Frank Nsubuga to the playing eleven for his experience against a side that raises their game when facing their regional rivals.

Top order batters Roger Mukasa and Ssimon Ssesazi have not batted particularly well and in a game of high stakes, Ugandans will be hoping they show up.

Dinesh Nakrani has been in fine form with ball-in-hand and should lead Ugand’s attack with support from Alpesh Ramjan who has been mean throughout the tournament.

Cricket Cranes last faced Kenya in the Continent T20 Cup in Nairobi with Uganda winning the game by one run.