Uganda Cricket unveiled its 2026 calendar that blends financial prudence with long-term ambition, while placing renewed emphasis on youth pathways, regional expansion and strategic performance targets.
Speaking on the thought process behind the calendar, Denis Musali, the General Secretary of Cricket Uganda, outlined the federation’s vision as a reset after an expensive high-performance push last year with a deep investment in development structures and aligning every activity with a five-year growth strategy.
“Last year’s approach demanded heavy spending on high-performance programmes; Cricket Uganda found itself needing to recalibrate. With some of those short-term targets unmet, the focus this year has shifted to being more frugal while still being intentional,” emphasized Musali.
“Rather than spreading resources thin, the calendar prioritises fewer but more impactful activities. The biggest investment is in pathway programmes, particularly targeting under-19 and younger players. Cricket Uganda is deliberately “casting the net wide,” moving beyond familiar talent pools to identify and nurture players across the country.”
This calendar is not a standalone plan. It is the first practical expression of a new five-year strategic framework developed late last year. Every competition, tour and training activity has been aligned to outcomes CU wants to see five years down the line.
At the heart of that strategy is a bold ambition: consistent qualification of Uganda’s junior teams for ICC World Cups, and ultimately securing ODI status for the senior men’s team. To get there, the calendar emphasises strong pathways, proper care of Uganda A teams, emerging talent squads and junior national teams, and deliberate preparation for ICC competitions that directly influence funding and global standing.
One of the key gaps that Cricket Uganda seeks to address is limited competitive exposure, especially at junior levels. Another is Uganda’s performance on the ICC scorecard, a critical assessment tool that directly affects ICC funding cycles.
With the current ICC cycle ending in 2027, performances and activities this year will significantly influence funding allocations in the next cycle. As a result, Cricket Uganda has doubled down on activities that score highly on the ICC scorecard, including structured U-15 and U-17 tournaments. At the same time, the calendar also tackles visibility concerns raised by the National Council of Sports by expanding cricket’s footprint across the country.
Cricket Uganda has increased its regions from six to 13, with the long-term aim of reaching all 110 districts nationwide. This expansion is designed to take the game closer to communities and ensure no talent is missed.
Player development pathways are deliberately structured and leaner, from district competitions to regional tournaments, then into national age-group teams, and eventually the senior sides. The system begins at Under-15, progresses to Under-17, then Under-19, before feeding into senior and A-team structures.
This approach is informed by hard lessons, particularly from the Under-19 qualifiers in Nigeria, where Uganda was relegated. The takeaway was clear: other nations have improved, while Uganda’s juniors lacked the cohesion and technical grounding needed to compete.
By allowing players to grow together through age-group competitions, Cricket Uganda hopes to recreate a model that worked successfully in the past, where generations developed together, built chemistry, and arrived at the Under-19 level already bonded and tactically aligned. Selection will still be merit-based, but within a structured pathway that prioritises long-term development over short-term fixes.
For the Cricket Cranes, the year carries significant weight. After failing to qualify for the T20 World Cup and dropping into African qualifiers, Uganda must now navigate a first-round qualifier in Nigeria against teams such as Nigeria, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique and The Gambia; while it represents a step down competitively, it is also an opportunity to reassert dominance at that level.
Even more critical is the ICC Challenge League B final round in Tanzania in August. This tournament is central to Uganda’s ODI ambitions, one of the flagship goals of the five-year strategy. Uganda currently sits top of the table, but complacency is not an option. With the top two teams qualifying this time, there is cautious optimism, but also an understanding that preparation will be decisive.
For the Victoria Pearls, the calendar is lighter, with the Emerging Cup being the key assignment later in the year. However, junior teams are equally in focus: the “Baby Victoria Pearls” will target World Cup qualification in Tanzania, while the Under-19 boys and girls face crucial qualifiers that will test the effectiveness of the revamped pathways.
Photo by: Sameer G. Bhalekar / CREIMAS
Beyond players, Cricket Uganda is investing in the people who make the game function. With cricket activities spread across 13 regions, there is a deliberate push to train and retain local umpires, scorers and administrators. The aim is to avoid over-reliance on officials from Kampala and ensure each region can independently run competitions.
Support will come through continuous engagement: regional leagues, cricket week tournaments, national trials and regular competitions that allow trained personnel to actively apply their skills. This consistent involvement is seen as key to retention and improvement.
To ensure skills are effectively transferred to players and communities, CU is prioritising capacity building and communication. Coaches and administrators will be kept informed and aligned, reducing gaps in understanding the game that have caused issues in the past.
Following anti-corruption challenges encountered last year, CU is also strengthening education around integrity in cricket. Rather than assuming awareness, CU plans to proactively train stakeholders on the risks and responsibilities involved, ensuring everyone operates from the same “playbook”.