She Cranes will kickstart their preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup to the United Kingdom with a series of games line-up.

The She Cranes will face the England Roses in the Vitality International Series for the second time, with the first coming in 2018 (which the Ugandans lost 3-0) prior to the 2019 World Cup.

They will also face Northern Ireland and club Loughborough Lightning, Peace Proscovia, Joan Nampungu, and Mary Nuba returning from the team that featured last term.

Four players – Rose Namutebi, Faridah Kadondi, Shakira Nakanyike, and Viola Asingo – are in line to make their debuts for the national side.

They replace Stella Oyella, Jessica Achan, Norah Lunkuse, and Shaffie Nalwanja who were part of the team that played at the Commonwealth Games just over a month ago.

Coach Fred Mugerwa believes the ladies are fit, “We have had few days of training for this trip but the girls are in good shape and fit because they have been training with their respective clubs,” he told The Sports Nation.

The Squad

Peace Proscovia (Surrey Storm), Joan Nampuungu (NIC), Sandra Nambirige (KCCA), Irene Eyaru (KCCA), Shadiah Nassanga (KCCA), Margaret Bagala (NIC), Hanisha Muhammad (KCCA), Viola Asingo (Prisons), Mary Nuba (Loughborough Lightening), Faridah Kadondi (Weyonje), Rosette Namutebi (KCCA), Shakira Nakanyike (Police)

She Cranes Matches in the United Kingdom

• Sept 28-29: Northern Ireland
• October 1-2: Wales
• October 5: England
• October 8: England
• October 9: England
• October 10: Scotland
• October 12: Loughborough Lightning

City Oilers will start the road to the 2023 Basketball Africa League (BAL) in front of their own fans.

The Oilers were handed the rights to host Group C of the First Round of the qualifiers due October 25-30.

Burundi’s Urunani BBC, home to former Oilers big man Landry Ndikuman, Hawassa City BBC (Ethiopia), Army Basket Club (Tanzania), and Matero Magic (Zambia) will be making the trip to Kampala.

Oilers missed out on the playoffs the first time after defeats to Patriots (Rwanda) and Maputo (Mozambique) in the 2019 qualifiers and withdrew from the second edition competition at the Elite 16, citing COVID-19 in South Africa.

Oilers earned the right to compete as champions of Uganda when the last National Basketball League finals were last held in 2019.

This year’s Road to BAL will start in four African cities including Kampala where Group C will be hosted.

Group A will be hosted in Niamey (Niger), Group B in Yaounde (Cameroon) and Group D in Antananarivo (Madagascar).

Teams that finish in the first two places in Groups A, B, C, and D will qualify for the Elite 16 Round, where they will join the six teams that qualified for the 2022 BAL season through the Road to BAL qualifier.

The remaining teams to complete the Elite 16 Round line-up will be announced by FIBA Africa at a later date.

The top six-placed teams from the Elite 16 will then qualify for the 2023 BAL Season where they will join the champions from Angola, Egypt, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia.

NBL 3rd Place Playoffs

• KIU Rangers 61-71 KCCA Leopards
• UCU Canons 69-68 KIU Titans

UCU Canons (Men) and KCCA Leopards (Women) settled for third-place finishes in this year’s National Basketball League.

The Leopards beat KIU Rangers 71-61 in the 3rd place playoff match held on Sunday at YMCA in Wandegeya.

Rebecca Aanyu led the way for the Leopards with 20 points while Angella Namirimu had 16 points for Ali Mavita’s charges. Becky Longom (14 rebounds) and Sylvia Nakazibwe (7 assists) were also outstanding for KCCA.

Perus Nyamwenge and Ninette Uwineza scored 19 and 12 points respectively for KIU Rangers who were.

In the men’s tie, 2015 & 2019 finalists UCU Canons overcame KIU Titans 69-68 and settled for bronze.

Meanwhile, the National Basketball League Finals series start this Wednesday at Lugogo.

• W: JKL Lady Dolphins Vs UCU Lady Canons
• M: Nam Blazers Vs City Oilers

Lira Golf Open 2022 (Professionals):

• Winner: Marvin Kibirige – 79, 74 (153)
• 1^st Runners up: Silver Opio – 82, 73 (155)
• 2^nd Runners up: Brian Toolit – 73, 83 (156)

Marvin Kibirige has won the 2022 Lira Golf Open for professionals at the Lira Sports and Golf Club in Lira city, Northern Uganda.

According to Kawowo Sports, Kibirige scored a combined score of 153 gross in 36 holes to win this championship on the 9-hole golfing facility.

He walked away with Shs 8,000,000 while Silver Opio finished second with 155 (82 and 73), a stroke better than Brian Toolit (156) having scored 73 and 83 in two rounds.

The other six players who made the treasured cut were; Fred Wanzala (157), Ronald Rugumayo (157), Vincent Byamukama (157), Rodell Gaita (158), Ashraf Bagalana (159), and Canary Kabise (159).

The professionals played 18 holes on Friday, 23^rd September 2022, and concluded with another 18 holes action the following day.

Top 9;

• 1 – Marvin Kibirige – 79, 74 (153)
• 2-  Silver Opio – 82, 73 (155)
• 3 –  Brian Toolit – 73, 83 (156)
• 4 – Fred Wanzala – 74, 83 (157)
• 5 – Ronald Rugumayo – 76, 81 (157)
• 6 – Vincent Byamukama – 78, 79 (157)
• 7 – Rodell Gaita – 77, 81 (158)
• 8 – Ashraf Bagalana – 81, 78 (159)
• 9 – Canary Kabise – 82, 77 (159)

2022 All Africa Amateur Golf Championship:

• 27^th – 30^th September
• Host country: Egypt
• City: Hurghada, Red Sea Governorate
• Facility: El Gouna Golf Club
• Mode of play: Stroke

Uganda Golf Union (UGU) has named an all-American-based team to represent the country at 2022 All Africa Amateur Golf Championship in Egypt.

According to Kawowo Sports, Uganda’s team will bear three-time Uganda Amateur Open championship winners Ronald Otile, Titus Okwong, Collins Ajedra, and Emmanuel Jakisa.

The four golfers will are based in the United States of America (USA), attached to the Livingstone College in North Carolina state.

The official tee-off will be on Tuesday, 27^th September 2022 and it is reported that national team head coach and female golf professional Flavia Namakula will join the team on Sunday.

“We have assembled our top foreign-based amateurs who have been playing college championship golf to face the best in Africa,” Kawowo Sports quoted a UGU statement.

“We are confident that these talented young men who have gained a lot of exposure in the US will rise up to the occasion and compete favorably with South Africa. Uganda will fight for the silverware until the last hole.”

Hosts Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, and Zimbabwe will also vie for the top gong in 72 holes action under stroke play format with the best 3 scores per day counting.

MTN Uganda in partnership with Busoga Kingdom has today launched an MTN-sponsored bicycle racing competition in the Eastern Kingdom of Busoga.

This bicycle racing competition launch comes only days after the kingdom concluded a four-month-long MTN-sponsored football tournament dubbed the Busoga Masaza cup that engaged all the counties of Busoga Kingdom.

The launch of the MTN-sponsored Busoga Kingdom bicycle race competitions dubbed “Obugaali Bwa Masaza” took place at the Busoga Kingdom administrative headquarters in Bugembe, Jinja.

The bicycle racing jersey was unveiled to the press and Kingdom officials ahead of the competitions that are set to start on the 30th of this month.

Speaking at the launch of the Busoga Kingdom Obugaali Bwa Masaza, Jimmy Isaraza, MTN Uganda’s Eastern Region Business Manager confirmed that the bicycle races are part of the agreement that was signed between Busoga Kingdom and MTN back in 2019.

“Under our agreement with Busoga Kingdom, MTN Uganda pledged to support the Kingdom in the realization of its aspirations by undertaking projects, particularly in the areas of education, health, and sports.

“We are happy to note that we are delivering our promise and we remain committed to being part of the initiatives that the Kyabazinga prides in,” Isaraza said.

Isaraza further noted that the Obugaali Bwa Masaza competitions will continue strengthening
the bond between MTN and the people of Busoga.

MTN Uganda staff members joined the Egaali Zempaka MTN Bicycle races in Fort Portal to be part of the finale on Sunday 4th September 2022.

Staff were put in a special category with cash prizes of over 750,000shs total to be won. Darius Muramira Amooti, Abel Mwesigye, Collin Kwesiga and Davis Mubiru took on the challenge.

The winners were Darius in the first place bagging 500,000shs and in second place was Robert Kirumira bagging 250,000shs.

This was among the first-ever bicycle race competitions sponsored by MTN Uganda and was recently successfully concluded in Tooro Kingdom.

MTN Uganda is committed to championing cultural heritage to foster unity and togetherness through sponsoring sports initiatives that also act as a platform for talent identification.

It is also an avenue to create awareness around social issues to bolster community growth and development.

Nam Blazers and UCU Lady Canons advanced to the finals of the National Basketball League playoffs in their respective divisions.

Nam Blazers beat KIU Titans 75-61 in Game 4 on Sunday night at YMCA in Wandegeya to win the best-of-five series 3-1.

Ariel Okall led Blazers with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Daniel Monoja added 13 points and 11 rebounds while David Deng contributed 11 points as the side dominated on the inside.

Fidel Okoth scored 11 points and picked 10 points for KIU while Joseph Chuma scored 10 points and picked 15 rebounds. Gaius Mahamba contributed 10 points.

Blazers await the winner between City Oilers and UCU Canons. Oilers lead the series 2-1.

In the women’s division, UCU Lady Canons completed the sweep of KIU Rangers to qualify for the finals. Lady Canons beat Rangers 65-40 behind Rose Akon’s 21points and 28 rebounds. Agatha Kamwada added 12 points.

Ines Kanyamunza and Ninette Uwineza scored 11 and 10 points respectively for KIU.

Sunday Results

• UCU Lady Canons 65-40 KIU Rangers (Lady Canons win series 3-0)
• UCU Canons 60-50 City Oilers (Oilers lead series 2-1)
• KIU Titans 61-75 Nam Blazers (Blazers win series 3-1)

City Oilers and UCU Lady Canons edged close to making the National Basketball League Playoff finals in their respective divisions.

The two sides won their respective Games 2s of the best-of-five semifinals on Wednesday night at YMCA in Wandegeya.

Oilers beat UCU Canons 72-61 thanks to Francis Azolibe’s game-high 21 points, 11 of which came in the third quarter.

The seven-time champions had a nine-point lead (18-9) at the end of the first quarter which they extended to 17 points midway through the second quarter and the writing was on the wall.

Tony Drileba and Ivan Muhwezi scored 13 and 10 points respectively to complement the Nigerian center.

For UCU Canons, it was Fayed Bbaale who scored 20 points to lead the losing effort with Peter Sifuma and Ibanda Lwabaga adding 15 and 10 points respectively.

In the Women’s Division, Lady Canons neat KIU Rangers 85-76 with Maimuna Nabbosa leading the scoring with 23 points. Rose Akon added 17 points and a game-high 23 rebounds while Agatha Kamwada (11), Bridget Aber (11), and Hajara Najjuko also scored in double digits.

Ines Kanyamunza had team-high 19 points for Rangers while Peruth Naymwenge, Florence Nanyonga, and Clarisse Ntumba contributed 18 points each.

Wednesday Results

• KIU Rangers 76-85 UCU Lady Canons (Lady Canons lead series 2-0)
• City Oilers 72-61 UCU Canons (Oilers lead series 2-0)

UCU Lady Canons took game one of the best-of-five playoff semifinals against KIU Rangers.

The Lady Canons beat Rangers 62-43 on Sunday afternoon at YMCA in Wandegeya.

The Canons were 26-15 up at halftime and that was a statement of intent as they were the better side throughout on the way to clinching a deserved 19-point win.

KIU did not hit the ground running and looked like a shadow of themselves from the side that swept Miracle Ravens in the quarterfinals.

Only Ninette Uwineza (10 points) scored in double figures. Ines Kanyamunza scored 7 points while Patricia Cate Nakiru and Fildauce Namuleme had 5 each.

Other Rangers reliable players Sharon Kirabo and Perus Nyamwenge never came to the party finishing with 4 and 2 points respectively.

On the other end of the court, KIU failed to slow down Rose Akon who scored 16 points and pulled down 27 rebounds.

Guard Maimuna Nabbosa (15 points) came in handy in what was one of her best games of the season. Shakira Nanvubya (12 points) was the other Lady Canon who scored in double digits.

Game 2 of the series will be played on Wednesday.

In the other Women’s semifinal, JKL Lady Dolphins took control of their series after winning Game 2 against KCCA Leopards, 65-52.

The Leopards who went toe-to-toe with the Lady Dolphins in the first half went cold in the third quarter and never recovered.

Brenda Ekone (20 points) and Hope Akello (11 points & 12 rebounds) scored in double figures for the victors while Taudenciah Oluoch had 14 rebounds to go with 8 points.

KCCA skipper Angella Namirimu (14 points) was the only player to score in double digits for Leopards.

Victory in Friday’s game three will see JKL march into their third straight final. They are back-to-back champions.

All Sunday Results

• UCU Lady Canons 62-43 KIU Rangers (Lady Canons lead series 1-0)
• KCCA Leopards 52-65 JKL Lady Dolphins (Lady Dolphins lead series 2-0)
• UCU Canons 64-72 City Oilers (Oilers lead series 1-0)
• KIU Titans 75-64 Nam Blazers (Series tied 1-1)