The final standings of the Capricorn Series will show Uganda finishing with an impressive record, but scorecards rarely tell the whole story.
This was a tournament of resilience, flashes of brilliance, missed opportunities, and valuable lessons. Uganda left Namibia with enough positives to smile about, enough frustrations to lose a little sleep over, and slightly enough evidence to believe that this squad is still a force capable of challenging the continent’s best.
Winning five matches, losing two and suffering one heartbreaking Super Over defeat is a respectable return. Yet, perhaps more importantly, Uganda discovered who they can depend on when the pressure rises and where work still needs to be done before the next major assignment.
If anyone wondered whether Janet Mbabazi still carries Uganda’s batting hopes, this tournament provided the answer in bold letters.
The skipper was Uganda’s heartbeat with the bat.
She produced:
- 24 against Hong Kong
- 20 against Capricorn Eagles
- 8 against Tanzania
- 1 against Hong Kong
- 41 against Capricorn Eagles
- 52 against Tanzania
- 61 against Capricorn Eagles
Every time Uganda needed stability, Mbabazi seemed to answer the call. She scored consistently rather than spectacularly, mixed caution with aggression. Her unbeaten half-century against Tanzania and match-winning 61 against Capricorn Eagles were innings built on maturity rather than luck.
Few players enhanced their reputation more than Proscovia Alako. The batter who once held the record for the youngest cricketer to score a century in Women’s Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) before her form stagnated.
Her tournament scores read: 38, 44, 20, 14, 1, 51* and 7 and tell the story of a batter in her rebirth and growing in confidence every game.
Whether opening partnerships, rotating strike or accelerating when needed, Alako increasingly looked comfortable against quality bowling attacks. Her unbeaten 51 against Tanzania showcased patience, while her aggressive 44 against Capricorn Eagles nearly carried Uganda to victory in the dramatic Super Over encounter.
Every successful team has one player capable of changing a match in ten deliveries. For Uganda, that player was Immaculate Nakisuuyi. Whether with bat or ball, she was electric.
Her explosive unbeaten 43 off just 22 balls almost rescued Uganda against Capricorn Eagles. Earlier she blasted 33 off 21 against Tanzania and added quick finishing runs throughout the tournament. With the ball, she also collected crucial wickets, including a match-winning spell against Tanzania.
Ritah Musamali quietly stitched together one of her most consistent tournaments.
Scores of 15, 17, 37, 22, 24 and 31 may not dominate highlight reels, but they repeatedly rescued Uganda after early wickets. She absorbed pressure, rotated strike and often rebuilt innings that threatened to collapse.
Every successful team needs players willing to do the difficult work without demanding applause. Musamali filled that role perfectly.
If batting won moments, bowling won matches. Sarah Walaza, who, by the way, has just returned to the set-up from maternity leave, produced some outstanding spells throughout the competition.
Her three-wicket haul against Capricorn Eagles in the opening meeting nearly delivered victory, while her economical bowling against Hong Kong China kept opponents under pressure throughout.
Consylate Aweko was equally dependable. She consistently bowled difficult overs and produced arguably her finest performance with figures of 3/20 in Uganda’s victory over Capricorn Eagles.
Asumin Akurut quietly collected wickets at crucial moments, while Ariokot Malisa repeatedly broke dangerous partnerships despite rarely receiving the spotlight.
Who was the Hardest Worker?
Statistics only tell part of the story. The hardest worker throughout the series was arguably Janet Mbabazi.
She captained the side, anchored innings, contributed with the ball when required, marshalled the field and remained Uganda’s emotional leader.
Close behind was Immaculate Nakisuuyi, whose all-round contributions repeatedly shifted momentum in Uganda’s favor.
The Weak Link? More a Position Than a Player
It would be unfair to single out one individual as the team’s weak link because Uganda’s struggles came from a recurring pattern rather than one player.
The opening partnerships were inconsistent.
Stephanie Nampiina endured a difficult batting tournament despite showing glimpses of her quality. Several early dismissals exposed Uganda’s middle order sooner than planned, forcing rescue acts from Musamali, Alako and Mbabazi.
This is less an individual criticism than an area demanding attention before future tournaments.
What Uganda Did Well?
Uganda’s greatest strength was adaptability; different players stepped up in different matches, they defended modest totals and chased under pressure.
They recovered from early batting collapses. Their bowling unit consistently restricted opponents to manageable scores, while the team’s fielding created several run-outs and crucial catches that turned matches.
Where Uganda Went Wrong
The tournament also exposed familiar weaknesses.
Early wickets regularly disrupted the batting order. Too many innings relied on one or two batters carrying the responsibility.
When Mbabazi failed early, as happened against Hong Kong, the innings immediately became more fragile.
Uganda also allowed winning positions to slip. The Super Over defeat against Capricorn Eagles remains the clearest example. After matching the opposition score, Uganda couldn’t quite find the killer instinct when it mattered most. Later in the tournament, they again surrendered a strong position against the same opponents, losing despite posting 147.
Tournament Highlights
Among the standout moments were:
- Janet Mbabazi’s commanding 61 against Capricorn Eagles.
- The unbeaten century partnership between Mbabazi and Alako before Tanzania forfeited the match.
- Nakisuuyi’s breathtaking 43 from only 22 deliveries.
- Uganda defeating Hong Kong China twice.
- Defending 132 against Tanzania by just five runs.
- Aweko’s match-winning 3/20.
- Walaza’s brilliant three-wicket spell against Capricorn Eagles.
- Five victories from eight outings, including a forfeit victory, against quality international opposition.
The Road Ahead
This Capricorn Series should leave Uganda optimistic rather than satisfied. The team already has leadership – it can be tough, but it’s there, has dependable bowlers and emerging batting talent. What they now require is greater consistency from the top order, improved finishing in close contests and a little more ruthlessness when opponents are on the ropes.
The encouraging news is that these are coachable problems.
If Uganda can build stronger opening partnerships and reduce the pressure on their middle order, this squad has every ingredient needed to compete successfully at the next continental and global assignments.