Uganda’s premier domestic women’s cricket competition is set for another exciting chapter as the LYCA Women’s T20 League bowls off on Saturday, June 13, bringing together the country’s leading female cricketers in a competition that continues to play a crucial role in the growth and development of women’s cricket.
Organized by UCricket Uganda, the league returns with an expanded focus on competition, talent development, and strengthening the pathway to national team cricket. Ten clubs have registered for this year’s edition, with teams divided into two divisions in a structure designed to increase competitiveness while rewarding performance.
The 2026 season arrives at a time when women’s cricket in Uganda is enjoying unprecedented growth, driven by the success of the national women’s team, the Victoria Pearls, and the emergence of a new generation of young players eager to make their mark on the game.
The league will feature ten clubs split equally between Division One and Division Two.
Division One
- Soroti City
- Olila Cricket Club
- Jinja SSS
- Tornado Bees
- Wanderers
Division Two
- JACC
- Pioneer
- ACC
- Tornado
- Nile
Unlike previous seasons, where teams largely competed within a static structure, the introduction of promotion and relegation adds a new layer of excitement and significance to every match.
At the end of the season, the bottom two teams in Division One will be relegated to Division Two, while the top two teams in Division Two will earn promotion to the top tier. The format ensures that clubs remain competitive throughout the campaign and creates a clear pathway for ambitious teams seeking to establish themselves among the elite.
According to the tournament playing conditions, the competition will be played on a double round-robin basis, giving teams multiple opportunities to prove themselves over the course of the season and ensuring a fair reflection of performance across the campaign.
The Division One champions will receive UGX 2 million, while the Division Two winners will earn UGX 1 million.
The tournament will be played under Twenty20 regulations, with each side batting for a maximum of 20 overs.
Matches will consist of one innings per side, while a minimum of five overs per team will constitute a match in the event of interruptions.
Teams will earn:
- 2 points for a win
- 1 point for a no result
- 0 points for a loss
Should teams finish level on points, net run rate will be used as the primary tie-breaker, followed by the number of wins. In the event of tied matches, Super Overs will be used to determine winners, ensuring that every contest produces a clear outcome whenever possible.
Matches will be played across several cricket grounds around the country, including Lugogo Oval, Entebbe Oval, Jinja Oval, Florida Oval and Soroti Oval.
One of the biggest attractions of the league remains the participation of Uganda’s top female cricketers; All national team players are expected to represent Division One clubs, guaranteeing high-quality contests week after week. This means fans will have the opportunity to watch some of the country’s best players compete against one another at club level.
The tournament regulations ensure competitive balance by limiting clubs to a maximum of four Uganda national team players per squad. National team players are defined as those who held national contracts and represented Uganda in international competitions during the previous year.
Among the Victoria Pearls players expected to feature in the league are established names such as Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Rita Musamali, Esther Iloku, Stephanie Nampiina, Proscovia Alako, Kevin Awino, Consy Aweko, Sarah Walaza, Naume Amongin, Irene Mutonyi, Patricia Malemikia, Evelyn Anyipo, and Janet Mbabazi, among others.
Their presence is expected to elevate the standard of competition while providing invaluable learning opportunities for emerging cricketers.
Beyond determining champions, the Women’s T20 League serves a much bigger purpose in Uganda’s cricket ecosystem.
Cricket Uganda views the competition as one of its most important talent development platforms, providing selectors and high-performance coaches with a regular opportunity to monitor players in competitive environments.
The availability of national team players for most of the campaign is expected to further enhance the quality of competition.
The scheduling of the competition has also been carefully planned around Uganda’s international commitments. Between the start of the league and its conclusion, the national women’s team is expected to have only one international engagement in Namibia. This means the domestic competition should proceed with minimal interruptions, allowing teams to maintain consistency and momentum throughout the season.
The majority of players participating in the league are between the ages of 16 and 19, making the competition a vital stepping stone for young athletes aspiring to represent Uganda.
Throughout the season, national selectors and high-performance staff will closely follow performances as they continue building future national teams.
For many players, the league represents the most direct route to earning a national team call-up. Every innings, wicket, catch, and match-winning performance could potentially bring a player closer to international cricket.
The opening round on June 13 will feature exciting Division One clashes, with Soroti City taking on Wanderers while Olila face Jinja SSS.