menu close

Suggestions

Big League: Blacks Power... Ssenyondo pleased with Uganda... Uganda Cubs fall to... Baby Cricket Cranes suffer... Mbarara City hold BUL...

Top athletes

Ivan Ahimbisibwe

Shaban Muhammad

Riticia Nabbosa

Fred Amaku

Hasifah Nassuna

Fazila Ikwaput

Najib Fesali

Shadia Nankya

Samalie Nakacwa

Alex Kitata

Catherine Nagadya

Top stories

Big League: Blacks Power edge Kataka in Mbale
Ssenyondo pleased with Uganda Cubs second half performance in defeat to Morocco
Uganda Cubs fall to Morocco in AFCON U-17

Eight-time National Basketball League champions City Oilers were in demolition mode on Friday beating Power 106-49 in a one-sided game played at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

The champions held Power to a layup by Elvis Ssentongointhe first quarter as they ran away to a 21-2 lead after the opening ten minutes and the writing was on the wall.

Luak Ruai top-scored with 23 points,  Fayed Baale shot 6-for-10 from three to garner 20 points while Jimmy Enabu (14), Michael Ngut (13), Ivan Muhwezi (11) and Lual (10) also scored in double figures.

Only Isaac Afidra (11 points) and Samad Imran (11) scored in double figures for Power.

In the women’s division, KCCA Leopards started their season with a deserved 63-58 win over JKL Lady Dolphins.

Ruth Atuheire led the way for Leopards with 15 points and 8 rebounds as KCCA made it. clear they will compete for the title.

Peace Nakirijja, playing for the first time since 2019 when she left JKL, was also outstanding for KCCA with 13 points while veteran Martha Soigi had 9 points and 11 rebounds, Linda Martha Nakalembe collected 10 points.

Hope Akello managed a game-high 16 points and 9 rebounds in a losing effort and Flavia Oketcho scored 10 points.

Results | Friday, March 24

Fixtures | Saturday, March 25 (YMCA, Wandegeya)

KIU Rangers started the Women’s National Basketball League at the MTN Arena in Lugogo with a bang, registering a comprehensive 81-57 win over Angels.

Rangers led 25-16 at the end of the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 24-point victory.

Rising star Mary Amaniyo, a student at St Mary’s SS Kitende, led the scoring for KIU with 16 points while Sharon Kirabo and Diana Letaru contributed 12 points each.

Former Magic Stormer Rachael Nanyonga scored 11 points on her Rangers league debut and all Rangers players were on the scoresheet including new signings Stella Nanfuka, Brenda Ayere and Shadiah Mbwali save for diminutive guard Fildauce Namuleme.,

Catherine Amusugut and Elizabeth Agut scored 15 and 10 points respectively for Angels.

In the men’s game that followed, Ndejje University Angels got the better of UCU Canons 64-55 thanks to Marshel Okech’s game-high 24 points.

Peter Sifuma scored 18 points to go with as many rebounds for the Canons. Kevin Kasobya (10 points) also scored in double figures for UCU.

Wednesday, 22nd March | Results

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) Competition Council released the first-round fixture for the 2023 National Basketball League.

The season will tip-off on Sunday, 19th March after a week-long delay due to said works at the MTN Arena in Lugogo as the National Council of Sports (NCS) communicated earlier.

The first round will end on 23rd May 2023.

In the highlight games of the opening day, eight-time champions City Oilers face KIU Titans in the men’s opener while in the Women’s division, champions UCU Lady Canons and JKL Lady Dolphins meet in a repeat of last year’s final.

Following the off-season business, Titans have fronted themselves as the new challengers to Oilers’ throne after signing players like Amisi Saidi and Innocent Ochera.

The first game of the season will see young and exciting Magic Stormer take on Miracle, Power will then take the floor against newcomers Rez Life Saints.

Ndejje University will face off with KCCA Panthers before. the highlight games of the opening day.

Abja Parks in Naalya (now the home of Nam Blazers) alongside Lugogo, YMCA and UCU (Mukono) are the venues for the games.

Opening Day Fixtures

Sunday, March 19th (Indoor Arena, Lugogo)

Nasser Sserunjogi was re-elected as the Federation of Uganda Basketball (FUBA) President during the federation’s elective Annual General Meeting held Saturday at Hotel Africana.

Sserunjogi got 39 votes and beat Gordon Gumisiriza (16) to retain the federation’s top seat for the second term.

The other contested post was the Women’s Commissioner. Racheal Atuhairwe Ainamasiko garnered 36 votes to beat Mariam Birungi to the position.

Hudson Ssegamwenge (Vice President – Administration), Aggrey Mbonye (Vice President -Finance) and Arnold Katabi (Vice President – Marketing) maintained their seats.

Patricia Ayebare and Mande Baker Kyambadde were also unopposed on the posts of Youths Commissioner and Vice President -Technical and Competitions respectively.

Atuhairwe, Ayebare and Kyambadde are the three new members of the executive.

Full Fuba Executive

2023 Entebbe Ladies Golf Open:

Champion: Martha Babirye (Handicap 3) – 73, 76 (149)

Martha Babirye finally won the Entebbe Ladies Golf title during the 13th edition played at the par 71 lakeside golfing facility in Entebbe Municipality over 36 holes in two days.

Babirye, also the reigning Uganda Ladies Open champion has now won most domestic competitions there is to offer on the ladies’ front.

“I have patiently but aggressively waited for my moment to win the Entebbe Ladies open. This is one trophy I was missing in my collections. I am so happy that I finally did it,” Babirye told reporters moments after holing out on hole 18 during the second round.

Babirye took a three-shot lead from the opening round in a field of 84 silver and bronze category golfers. On day two, she played 5-over 76 but still managed to win.

“I have been chasing the Entebbe ladies in my career. I feel relieved and very excited about the victory. When I opened the lead on day one, I did not rest, I came back determined the job done and here I am as a champion. I thank my playing mates for the good game and healthy competition, my sponsors led by Dorren Mwesigye, Shoeman International and others,” Babirye told the guests at the 19th hole.

The 2023 Entebbe Ladies Open lured two female professionals; Irene Nakalembe and Flavia Namakula.

Nakalembe carried the day with 1-under 70 gross score to claim the lion’s share of the UGX 2,000,000 kitty from the sponsors.

On the other hand, Namakula played 3-over 74.

“This has been a well-organized tournament especially having female professionals on board. This should be the trend for other female tournaments in the future to inspire as many budding female golfers” Nakalembe who claimed 7 titles (Entebbe Ladies open) as an amateur revealed.

A record field of 266 golfers (including subsidiaries) took part in this two-day championship that had one Kenyan female guest.

Previous Winners:

Jane Asinde produced a top performance as eighth-seeded Wichita State recorded the biggest win in American Athletic Conference Championship history.

The Shockers upset top seed the University of South Florida, 65-53, on Tuesday in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals of the championship for the first time in school history.

The Shockers held USF to 19-of-60 from the field (32%) and just 4-of-22 from beyond the arc.

The Shockers came out firing on all cylinders to open the game as they started 7-of-8 from the field to build a 14-4 lead, while South Florida missed its first seven field goal attempts.

Seven first-quarter points from Asinde and a stingy defence saw Wichita State lead 15-8 after the opening quarter and never looked back.

Asinde scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting to go with eight rebounds while Curtessia Dean scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half.

Samaryah Duncan (9 points), DJ McCarty (8 points) and Daniela Abies (6 points) came in handy on the day. The Shockers will face No. 4 Houston today for a spot in the championship game.

Last season’s National Basketball League runners-up JKL Lady Dolphins have added three players ahead of the 2023 season.

Small forward Agatha Kamwada from UCU Lady Canons, Leticia Awor and Becky Longom both from KCCA Leopards are the three players that have joined the Lady Dolphins.

The trio was part of the Gazelles provisional squad for the recently concluded Zone V Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

Awor was part of the final squad. She averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds last season for the Leopards.

Kamwada was instrumental last season with the title-winning Lady Canons, helping the Mukono side dethrone JKL to win the League.

If the stars from last season like Flavia Oketcho, Brenda Ekone, Hope Akello, Rita Imanishimwe and Evelyn Nakiyinji stay, JKL will be in the hunt for the title again.

JT Jaguars and KIU Titans are winners of the 2023 UCU Invitational Basketball tournament that climaxed on Sunday in Mukono.

Inspired by seasoned campaigners Zainah Lokwameri, Rhodah Nagita, Sarah Ageno, Maimuna Nabbosa, and Muhayimina Namuwaya, Jaguars who gained promotion to the National Basketball League last year beat league champions UCU Lady Canons.

The Lady Canons are going through a rebuild having lost among others Agatha Kamwada, Nabbosa, and Rose Akon who completed their studies at the university.

Jaguars head coach Jeff Omondi will take victory at the pre-season tournament as a stepping stone as he looks to make the team challenge for the league title on the first time of asking.

Muhayimina Namuwaya,Zainah Lokwameri and Rhoda Naggita

Meanwhile, KIU Titans put up a strong fourth-quarter performance en route to a 55-44 win over UCU Canons in the men’s final.

New signing Innocent Ochera was the star of the show hitting five three-pointers in a game Titans were red-hot from outside the arc. Edgar Munaba also had a good game under the lights.

UCU got major contributions from rising and entertaining guard Jimmy Otim as well as centre Joel Kayiira who will be playing his first season in the top flight.

KIU Titans head coach Julius Lutwama who has assembled a championship-contending team go to see what his group can produce and he will be happy with what he saw in the pre-season tournament.

2023 Venus Golf Open:

Overall winners:

Seniors:

Joseph Cwinya-ai returned to the podium as champion after the 2023 Venus Golf open championship at the Toro club in Fort Portal city.

The national team golf captain struck 2-under 70 (gross) to beat the rest of the field to the top prize. He was two and three strokes better than Frank Mugisha (72) and Titus Okwong (73).

The ladies’ category was won by Judith Komugisha (75 gross) and Lillian Koowe came second with 84 gross.

In the senior’s event (55 years and above), it was all smiles for the golfing couple of the Kagombe. Charles Kagombe won the men’s event with 71 nett as Edrea Kagombe finished top among the ladies (75 nett).

Charles beat runners-up Smart Bwango (73) to the top prize as Edrea came top ahead of Jill Pinda.

Other top performers:

In the men group A (handicap 7-12), George Kahihura (handicap 8) won the countdown with 72, as Emmanuel Komugisha (handicap 7) and Albert Mwebwe (handicap 12) followed with a 72 net scores as well.

For group B (handicap 13-18), Eriah Byaruhanga (handicap 15) also won on 72 nett (countback), the same score as Mutesasira Kitengo (handicap 15) and Andrew Isagara (handicap 14).

In group C (handicap 19-28), the winner was Polly Rwandekeye (handicap 28) with 70 nett.

Denning Yampa (handicap 36) followed with 77 whilst Brian Masaba (handicap 22) was third with 79.

Ladies:

Robina Angom, playing off handicap 14 scored 75 nett to win the ladies’ group A (handicap 0-18) ahead of Ann Abeja (handicap 8) with 76 nett.

In group B (handicap 19-28), Florah (handicap 25) won with 65 nett, ahead of Rossett Tugume

Aisha Kansiime (handicap 29) scored 69 to win group C ladies (handicap 29-39).

Side-bets:

Mehta Golf club’s Godfrey Nsubuga won the men’s longest drive contest with Janet Kabayonga taking the ladies’ award.

Titus Okwong won the nearest to the pin (men) and Judith Komugisha took the ladies.

Bernard Baguma, Toro Club Captain expressed his gratitude towards the golfers and sponsors for the successful tournament.

I cannot tell you how happy I am that we got to do this again and very successfully. Today’s tourney is one that we always look forward to on our calendar and the fact that we got to do it with Venus and Tusker Malt makes it all worthwhile. I want to thank members of the club, the golfers that came out to play.

Bernard Baguma, Toro Club Captain

Meanwhile, the same championship (Venus open) was used to officially tee off the country-wide Tusker Malt Golf Series.

This countrywide tour is expected to traverse all parts of the country in a bid to make golf more accessible and inclusive.

The next stop on the Tour is Lugazi with the Mehta Open which is expected to take place on March 18 and then to Arua City for the Arua Open which is slated to take place in June.

The Serena 63 Golf series was launched at the picturesque Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa golfing facility at Kigo, Wakiso district.

For starters, the series derived its name from the championship record of 63 gross currently held by Kenya’s legendary professional golfer Dismas Indiza (set in 2019 during the Tusker Malt Uganda Golf Open).

Lake Victoria Serena will be offering pricing associated with 63 throughout the tournament for example; Accommodation single room bb: $163, platter for 2: 63,000, entry fee: 63,000 etc.

The series will last for as long as 40 weeks effective 1st March to 3rd December 2023 with each golfer expected to play a minimum of 36 rounds (18 holes each).

There are enticing prizes worth Shs 36,000,000 to be won as well as 12 months’ golf members at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf resort and spa.

Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort & Spa is proud to announce the Serena 63 Golf Series presented by Serena Hotels, Resorts & Lodges. This will be the biggest prized amateur event in the region. The Serena 63 Golf Series will be a golf competition run over a 40-week period. Players must play a minimum of thirty-six 18 hole rounds of golf to qualify for the main prizes. There will be quarterly prizes based on the order of Merit as the competition progresses, as well as themed prizes to keep it exciting. All scorecards must be submitted and final winners will be determined on the totals of their 18 best scores. The more you play the better you can perform

Theo Van Rooyen, director of golf – Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort and Spa

The tournament is for both members and non-members in this championship.

I want to confirm to all of you that Lake Victoria Serena Golf resort & SPA are in good standing with the Union and always willing and active to engage on any matter.I would like also to extend our sincere appreciation to your club for continuously supporting the growth of golf in Uganda and hosting our events fashionably and incredulous. I would like to pass my profound courtesy and encouragement to the management team for this innovation (Serena 63 Golf Series) and you have our full support and we will not hesitate to support once called upon. This event is good and in the spirit of growing golf in Uganda and so competitively.

Moses Matisko, President – Uganda Golf Union (UGU)

Registration:

Registration will take place from 1 March 2023 online and at the Pro-Shop. Registrations will close on 1st April 2023. All participants must provide a valid CDH/ID to enter.

The top winners will be announced on 9th December 2023.

There will be weekly updates will be shared with all registered players on point standings. There will be quarterly winners on the order of Merit as the competition progress.

All scorecards need to be signed by the player and marker and placed in the designated scorecard box provided at the Pro-Shop with all rounds to be played according to the Rules of Golf published by R&A Limited.