Uganda’s Gazelles started residential training today as the team prepares for the Zone Five Championships due February 14-19 at the MTN Arena in Lugogo.

Four players; Angellah Namirimu (KCCA), Moreen Amoding (JT Lady Jaguars), Sarah Namale (Nabisunsa) and Rebecca Susan Aanyu (KCCA) have been released as the team enters camp.

The team will be boosted by rising star Maria Najjuma and naturalised small forward (who can also play as a shooting guard) Jannon Otto. The duo is expected to join the team by the end of the week.

Najjuma is a graduate of the Junior Gazelles having played at the U16 African championship in 2019.  She went to the NBA Africa Academy in Senegal last year before heading to the USA for High School.

Otto, on the other, is a complete player having played for the University of California, Riverside in the NCAA before going pro in Australia last year and Luxemburg where she currently features for Musel Pikes.

Five Countries – Egypt, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda – will take part in the round-robin tournament whose winner will qualify for the Women’s AfroBasket to be hosted by Rwanda in July.

Gazelles Squad

Evelyn Nakiyingi (JKL), Shakira Nanvubya (UCU), Flavia Oketcho (JKL), Rita Imamishimwe (JKL), Perus Nyamwenge (KIU Rangers), Brenda Ekone (JKL), Shilla Lamunu (Magic Stormers), Leticia Awor (KCCA), Agatha Kamwada (UCU), Zainah Lokamweri (JT Lady Jaguars), Hope Akello (JKL), Bridget Aber (UCU), Sarah Ageno (JT Lady Jaguars), Jannon Otto (Musel Pikes, Luxembourg), Maria Najjuma (NBA Academy, Senegal)

• Gazelles 79-52 Uganda Select

It’s an almost full house in Gazelles camp after skipper Flavia Oketcho joined the team during the course of the week as they prepare for the FIBA Zone V Women’s AfroBasket Qualifiers.

The JKL Lady Dolphins point guard and the Gazelles’ most experienced player joined the team on Thursday but did not practice. She however played the first warm-up game of the team as they beat a Select Side 79-52 at the MTN Arena on Sunday.

But it was power forward Hope Akello and wing Agatha Kamwada who led the Gazelles scoring in the game with 11 and 10 points respectively while Sara Ageno (9), Leticia Awor (8) and Susan Becca Aanyu (7) made significant contributions.

The Select Side, handled by KIU Rangers’ coach Rogers Sserunyigo, was mainly composed of players who were dropped from the initial Gazelles squad.

Evelyn Nakiyinji, Shilla Lamunu, Leticia Awor Sarah Ageno and Priscila Aber took the floor first for the Gazelles who edged the first quarter 13-11 and never looked back. The Gazelles led by 18 at halftime and finished 67-45 after four quarters.

However, in order to give players more game time, two extra periods of five minutes each were added, and the score extended to 79-52.

“The Select Team revealed a lot of work to us. The purpose of the game was to see how much we did in practice translates to today, and I can see there are a couple of good things and many that we need to work on,” said assistant coach Nick Natuhereza.

The team is expected to enter a residential camp this week.

Five Countries – Egypt, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda – will take part in the qualifiers whose winner gets the nod to play at AfroBasket.

Team Uganda Management has organized a practice game for the Gazelles side against a select team.

The first warm-up game will take place on Sunday, 5th February 2023, at the MTN Arena in Lugogo with tip-off at 4:00 pm.

This game is aimed at sharpening the Gazelles as they gear up for the upcoming FIBA Zone V Afrobasket 2023 Qualifiers due in Kampala from 14th-19th February 2023.

Gazelles: 1. Evelyne Nakiyingi 2. Flavia Oketcho 3. Shakira Nanvubya 4. Hope Akello 5. Angella Namirimu 6. Brenda Ekone 7. Shilla Lamunu 8. Rita Imanishimwe 9. Amoding Moreen 10. Perus Nyamwenge 11. Sarah Juliet Ageno 12. Agatha Kamwada 13. Bridget Aber 14. Sarah Namale 15. Zaina Lokwameri 16. Rebbeca Susan Anyu 17. Leticia Awor

Team Select: 1. Ruth Letaru, 2. Fildausi Namuleme, 3. Azidah Nabayunga, 4. Diana Letaru, 5. Maimouna Nabbosa, 6. Martha Soigi, 7. Sharon Kirabo, 8. Ines Kanyemuneza, 9. Denise Eden Tekitendwa, 10. Falidah Kandondi 11. Margaret Bagala

Coach – Roger Serunyingo

City Oilers Basketball Club has confirmed the signing of point guard Fayed Bbale and forward Titus Lual Odeke.

The duo that was part of the City Oilers team that featured at the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elite 16 in November joins from UCU Canons.

The addition of the pair means the eight-time National Basketball League champions remain favourites for the league that starts on 10th March 10 2023.

Bbale and Lual are the first official signings for the Oilers in this window. The club is also reported to have added Edrine Walujjo from UPDF Tomahawks.

Bbale walks into the team’s backcourt to pair up with Tony Driliba, especially with Ben Komakech and Jimmy Enabu at the tail end of their careers.

Odeke, on the other hand, is a proven scoring big man who can play from 3 to 5 and fills the gap left by Francis Azolibe who left for Kigali Titans in the Rwanda league.

Uganda’s National Women’s Basketball team is taking shape as the side continues preparations for the upcoming Zone V Qualifiers for the Women’s AfroBasket.

The Gazelles completed week one of training for the tournament that will be held at the MTN Arena in Lugogo due February 14-19.

The squad has been trimmed to 15 players with two players (Flavia Oketcho and Maureen Amoding) yet to report for training because they are still outside the country and expected to join the team early February.

The fifteen available players will resume training on Monday (January 23rd) at Lugogo.

Uganda has, in the past, qualified for the Women AfroBasket twice (1997 and 2015) and they will be fancying their chances to return to the continent.

The Current Squad:

• Evelyne Nakiyingi (JKL Lady Dolphins)
• Sarah Ageno (JT Lady Jaguars)
• Shakira Nanvubya (UCU Lady Canons)
• Bridget Aber (UCU Lady Canons)
• Angella Namirimu (KCCA Leopards)
• Sarah Namale (Nabisunsa Girls)
• Brenda Ekone (JKL Lady Dolphins)
• Rebecca Anyu (KCCA Leopards)
• Rita Imanishimwe (JKL Lady Dolphins)
• Perus Nyamwenge (KIU Rangers)
• Agatha Kamwada ( UCU Lady Canons)
• Zaina Lokwameri (JT Lady Jaguars)
• Shilla Lamunu (Magic Stormers)
• Leticia Awor (KCCA Leopards)
• Hope Akello (JKL)

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association has named the provisional squad of the women’s national team to play at the Zone V Qualifiers next month.

The preliminary Gazelles squad made up of only home-based has 28 players who started training today at the MTN Arena in Lugogo. This will be a non-residential training camp for 10 days and thereafter a residential one with the final selected team until the tournament period.

The qualifiers will take place from 14th – 19th February in Kampala, Uganda.

The Gazelles will be seeking to make their third appearance on the continent after debuting in 1997 and at the 2015 edition in Cameroon. They bounce back into contention for a place having missed out on the previous edition due to lack of funds.

“This is a big event for our women’s basketball since we have not been at this stage for eight years now due to lack of funds to participate,” said Nasser Sserunjogi, the FUBA President.

The team will be handled by a new head coach Alberto Atuna assisted by Ali Mavita, Nick Natuhereza, and Roger Sserunyigo.

The Provisional Squad

Evelyne Nakiyingi (JKL Lady Dolphins), Winfred Akello (Miracle), Flavia Oketcho (JKL Lady Dolphins), Sarah Ageno (JT Lady Jaguars), Shakira Nanvubya (UCU Lady Canons), Bridget Aber (UCU Lady Canons), Fildauce Namuleme (KIU Rangers), Becky Longom (KCAA Leopards), Angella Namirimu (KCCA Leopards), Sarah Namale (Nabisunsa Girls), Brenda Ekone (JKL Lady Dolphins), Rebecca Anyu (KCCA Leopards), Shila Lamunu (Magic Stormers), Rita Imanishimwe (JKL Lady Dolphins), Amoding Moreen (JT Lady Jaguars), Perus Nyamwenge (KIU Rangers), Shadia Mbwali (Nkumba Lady Marines), Agatha Kamwada ( UCU Lady Canons), Diana Letaru (Magic Stormers), Azida Nabayunga (UCU Lady Canons), Zaina Lokwameri (JT Lady Jaguars), Margaret Bagaala (KU Ladies), Mary Amaniyo (KIU Rangers), Leticia Awor (KCCA Leopards), Faridah Kandondi (KU Ladies), Hope Akello (JKL), Sharon Kirabo (KIU Rangers), Sylvia Nantongo (SMASK)

Eight-time National Basketball League champions City Oilers have officially signed Fayed Bbale.

The flashy point guard joins Oilers from UCU Canons after completing his sports scholarship at the Mukono-based Christian university.

Bbale played for the Oilers during the qualification process for the 2023 Basketball Africa League and immensely impressed the hierarchy at the eight-time national league champions. including the coach who had been an admirer of the diminutive guard.

Bbale is one of the players who came through the Jr NBA programme playing for Mashariki High School (Pelicans) and was head and shoulder above his peers.

Before joining UCU Canons, he played for Rez Life Saints.

David Deng has left last year’s National Basketball League finalists Namuwongo Blazers for Burundian side Dynamo Basketball Club.

Deng moves to Burundi comes after two seasons with the Blazers, including a season that was cut short by Covid-19.

The small forward missed the first round of last season due to his engagements with home side Cobra Basketball Club in the Basketball Africa League.

On return, he guided the Blazers to the NBL finals where they lost to City Oilers in the most watched best-of-seven finals series.

Dikong, as he’s fondly known, averaged just under 13 points and 7 rebounds a game last season.

About Deng

Dikong was born in the West Nile city of Arua to South Sudanese parents. He came to the limelight while playing for Giant Stormers when he was studying at Budo SS.

During his A’Level vacation, Dikong played for Destiny Phenoms before joining UCU Canons, a side he left after completing his sports scholarship.

He is a big signing for Dynamo who will be chasing their fourth title having been crowned champions in 1998, 2016 and 2018.

Francis Azolibe has left National Basketball League champions City Oilers.

The Nigerian power forward/center has been unveiled by Rwandan side Kigali Titans.

Rwanda’s BK National Basketball League will tip off on 13th January.

Last year, Azolibe helped Oilers overcome Nam Blazers in Best of Seven finals series for their eighth straight title.

It is the second time Azolibe leaves City Oilers having exited in 2020 to join Nam Blazers before returning the Bugolobi-based side last year.

During his first stint with Oilers he won the seventh title but suffered a career threatening knee injury and underwent surgery.

Meanwhile, Uganda’s National Basketball League will start on 10th March.

Vanguard University Lions washed away the Arizona Christian University Firestorm 87-66 at the OCC Gym helped out by 32 points in the first quarter.

Fans were treated to yet another double-double from Uganda’s Gazelles star Melissa Akullu who posted 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead all players in the game.

Lauren Baumgartner and Airiana Madanski each were strong from beyond the arc, netting 18 points each.

Vanguard University goes to 11-3 overall and 5-2 in league play, while Arizona Christian falls to 7-9 overall and 3-4 in conference action.

The Lions will complete the three-game home set on Thursday, 12th January when they square off with Hope International University for the first time this season, with second place on the line.

It should be noted that for her performance in that game coupled with her output against Ottawa University Surprise (OUAZ)in which she scored 29 points and picked 14 rebounds, Akullu was named the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week.

It is her second successive Player of the Week honour and third overall in her career at Vanguard University.