Basketball is one of the biggest and fast growing sports in the country.
The last decade has seen the game grow, with several academies coming up and clubs being formed with national league champions City Oilers and JKL being the most prominent.
The brand of the national team has grown over the years in lips and bounds qualifying for back-to-back AfroBasket tournaments while the junior teams have also competed on the continent.
All the success basketball has seen in the country is because of the people who love the game and have invested their personal resources and sacrificed time for the development of the game.
It’s upon that background that some Ugandans living in the United States who have been part of the game back home have decided to come together to brainstorm on how to further grow the game in their motherland.
“It’s about time we get together as a family from Uganda,” Mark Musonge, the host of the event, told Kawowo Sports.
“This will be our first event and we hope to brainstorm and see how we can have a positive impact on the game back home,” he added.
The group will converge in Santa Clarita, California over the last weekend of November during which they will also catch the FIBA AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers as Uganda takes on Cape Verde, Egypt, and Morocco.
Some of the people expected to attend are;
- Ivys Kalambayi – Falcons, Our Savior, Makindye Shooters
- Mathew Ochieng – Kibuli SS, Western Oklahoma State College
- Isaac Mizzle – Ntare School, Makindye Shooters
- Nicholas Mugisha – Old Kampala SS Coach/Player, Makerere Heaters
- Charles Ssubi – Falcons
- Jonah Otim – City Oilers, Massbay College (Franchise)
- Mark Musonge – Makerere Heaters, CEO Elite Fitness Club – California
- David Sydney – MUK Men Basketball
- Derrick Onghom – St. Michael High School, YMCA Hamsters
- Jamila Nansikombi – JKL Lady Dolphins, Moberly Area Community College
- Francis Wallace – St. Mary’s Kitende, Oklahoma State University
- Samuel Bwahayo – Emperors Basketball Club, Kings Basketball Club, CEO Noble Sports Wear
- Brian Minge – Manager, Miracle Eagles (2007-2010)
- Baker Kyambadde – FIBA Referee, UPDF Tomahawks Coach
- Wooden – Power Basketball Club
- Dennis Osikol – Manager, Heaters
- Carol Nyafono – Magic Stormers, Gazelles
- Angela Lokidi – A1 Challenge
- Sarah Nakitenda – KCCA Leopards
- Fazirah Vanuys – Amazon Rhino, MUK Sparks