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SC Villa beat NEC to lift 17th league title
UPL Preview: NEC in SC Villa’s way to 17th League title
Zambia end Uganda’s FIFA U17 Women's World Cup dream

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).

As discussions about referees and their performance continue across the country, FUFA has released a list having 24 referees certified by FIFA.

The list released is of those that will wear the FIFA badge for the calendar of the year 2024.

According to the official FUFA website, the list released was submitted to FIFA by the FUFA Executive and 24 names were verified.

Among the 24 are two new entrants in Immaculate Ongeira and Brianson Musisi who are both assistant referees for the eleven-aside football.

Ali Sabila Chelangat, Mashood Ssali, William Oloya, Luck Razaake Kasalirwe and George Olemu are the five certified Male Center referees.

The list has only three female centre referees namely; Shamira Nabadda, Habiba Naigaga and Diana Murungi.

The male assistant referees are six, one more that the center referees namely; Ronald Katenya, Hakim Mulindwa, Emmanuel Okudra, Timothy Gumisiriza Karusigarira, Brianson Musisi, Ashiraf Katerega

The female assistant referees are only four; Lydia Nantabo Wanyama, Jane Mutonyi, Elizabeth Nassolo and Immaculate Ongiera.

Futsal’s two slots have been occupied by Brian Emmy Nsubuga and Isaac Sengendo.

While Beach Soccer’s four slots have been occupied by Ivan Kintu Bayige, Muhammad Ssenteza, Kennedy Kawagga Bazirio and Joel Chote Munyendoh.

National Basketball League – Results

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Namuwongo Blazers registered an 89-67 victory against Kampala Rockets in an exciting National Basketball League encounter at the YMCA Court on Sunday.

The Blazers secured the third victory in four games played thus far in the ongoing campaign.

In search of a sounding victory, the Blazers quickly got out of their blocks and took control of the game finishing the first period with a six-point advantage (17-11).

The Blazers only got better in the second quarter scoring 10 more points than they managed in the second quarter compounding the Rockets’ sorrow who were trailing by 17 (44-27) at halftime.

Coming from the locker rooms, the Rockets found their footing and fought hard to reduce the deficit to 10 points (61-51) as Simon Ola sealed the third quarter with a two-point jump shot.

In the final quarter of the game, the Blazers got on top of their game and recreated the huge gap between the two sides as they perfectly sealed their 22-point victory.

Peter Cheng harvested a game-high with 24 points topping Namuwongo Blazers’ scoring sheet as Innocent Ochera and Joseph Chuma added 23 and 19 points respectively.

The Rockets’ scoring was led by Francis Kasinde who dropped 20 points followed by John Dombo and Ola who dropped 17 and 11 points.

It was a great shooting day for the winning team which managed to convert 11 of the 22 attempts outside the paint. 

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

GROUP A MEN

GROUP B MEN 

GROUP C MEN

LADIES

SENIORS (55+)

GUESTS

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.

MTN MONTHLY TEE DRAWDownload

National Basketball League | Fixture

KIU Titans and City Oilers will lock up horns in the National Basketball League at Lugogo Arena today Friday, February 16, 2024.

The two sides faced in last season’s finals which was clinched by City Oilers on a 4-2 aggregate victory as they lifted their ninth title.

In the pre-match conference, KIU Titans head coach Julius Lutwama revealed that it’s not any special game and they will only try and play their normal game.

“We are playing City Oilers and nothing is exceptional with this game. All we plan is to go and execute our game plan,” Lutwama said.

“We have had good preparations and we shall try and execute our plan. However, City Oilers have always been special, the fact that they have won nine (titles) in a row because they have no competitor for that,” he added.

Nonetheless, Lutwama believes the gap between the two sides is not big since they met in the finals of the previous campaign.

“The fact that we played them in the finals last season shows how we are close and it’s one thing we shall try and weigh.”

The Titans will attempt and end the Oilers’ unbeaten run following back-to-back victories against UCU Canons (83-52) and Kampala Rockets (73-53). For Starters, the Titans fell to Namuwongo Blazers (59-63) in the season opener.

KIU Titans’ roaster has been boosted by the return of Peter Obleg after a long off-season break.

On the other hand, the City Oilers look like a well-oiled machine ready to go all the way. Their thrilling start to the campaign has seen them secure four victories in four games played this far.

UCU Canons’ Joel Kayiira has made it to the 13-man Silverbacks squad ahead of the 2025 AfroBasket Qualifiers.

The squad is made up of seven local players as well as five who play across the borders.

Kayiira’s outstanding performance has carried him onto the list of the seven who play in the National Basketball League.

His statistics say much about how he has been a beast in the paint. Kayiira averages 11 rebounds while his efficiency reads 68.

The other local players in the squad are Ivan Muhwezi (City Oilers), Fayed Baale (City Oilers), James Okello (City Oilers), Tony Drilleba (City Oilers), Titus Odeke (City Oilers), Stanley Mugerwa (KIU Titans) and Edgar Munaba (KIU Titans).

Uganda is pitted in group B alongside, Cape Verde, Nigeria, and the winner between Morocco and Libya.

The last time the Silverbacks met with Cape Verde, the latter eliminated Ugandain in the Quarterfinals of the 2021 AfroBasket.

The two nations had earlier met in the qualifiers before the final tournament that was hosted in Kigali, Rwanda.

Uganda will be led by Kepler University head coach Mande Juruni and City Oilers gaffer Andrew Tendo.

The Final Squad:

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

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 | Fixture

UCU Canons began the 2024 National Basketball League with a 69-58 against Kampala Rockets in the game that was played at YMCA Court in Wandegeya.

But the Canons later fell to KIU Titans in the 83-52 loss in a game where they did a lot of things poorly and struggled to stage any positive talking point.

The Canons have not had the best start to the season staging a start-stop run so far, but the game against D-Mark Power gives them a great chance for them to make amends.

Canons head coach Nicholas Natuhereza noted that they have to bounce back and return to winning ways.

“We have to do everything to see that we bounce back from the loss against Titans,” Natuhereza said.

“We need to handle this game better. Things have to change so that we play better as we take on Power,” he added.

In the previous game, Canons had only two people who were Jerry Samson Kayanga and Marvin Jesse Okurut scoring a double of 10 points each. The boys will need to sharpen their attacking prowess if they are to register better results.

The Canon City will be happy to learn of the return of Jimmy Otim. The point guard was injured during last season’s quarterfinals as UCU took on Power thus setting up an interesting duel in our eyes.

“Otim is back in full training. We do not want to rush him but I hope he will feature in today’s game,” Natuhereza concluded.

On the other hand, Power kicked off the campaign with a humiliating 73-38 loss to the City Oilers.