The 2026-27 National Pool League bursts back into action this Sunday, September 13, 2026, with defending champions Roxberry Pool Club launching their title defence in an ultimate face-off against 2023 champions Mbale Pool Club.
A week after The Pool Association of Uganda (PAU), through its Competitions Committee, successfully undertook venue inspections as part of preparations for the forthcoming PAU National League, the stage is officially set.
The rigorous exercise aimed to assess the standard, suitability, readiness, safety, and operational capacity of venues to host official PAU National League matches, concluding just ahead of a weekend of action.
Running over 10 weeks, the league features teams grouped in fours due to limited time, from which they will advance to the championship playoffs. Simultaneously, PAU released its inaugural venue inspection report. Beluga Lounge, New Base Hotel, Adi’s Spot, iTaano, and Amigoz Sports Bar were cleared under Category A as fully compliant.
Several venues, including Roxberry Bar (Kiwanga) and Upper Volta (Kasubi), were cleared with conditions requiring facility adjustments, while Club 408 and Club Victoria face hurdles under Category C due to table limitations. Additionally, the women’s league will officially kick off in a fortnight.
For the men, the journey begins this Sunday on neutral grounds in a round-robin format, with all games kicking off at 11:00 AM sharp. Teams must report to their respective venues by 10:30 AM for inspection, as late arrivals attract walkovers and fines, and smartness and dress code are mandatory.
At Beluga Lounge in Kitintale, defending champions Roxberry look to keep their winning machine intact. Roxberry became only the third team from outside Kampala to win the National Pool League following Ronz Pool Club in 2017 and Mbale Pool Club in 2023, making history by securing their maiden league title with an unassailable 92 points and a game to spare.
Their title triumph changed the balance of power in Ugandan pool. After a costly forfeiture against Nakawa threatened to derail their run, Roxberry responded emphatically, demolishing Kireka 16-4 in a bonus-point victory that showed their championship credentials.
Captain and league top scorer Ibra Sejjemba was at the heart of that charge, sweeping all four of his games against Kireka, supported by Ian Kazibwe, Azali Lukomwa, Simon Lubuulwa, and Joseph Kasozi.
Sejjemba has won four of his last five National League titles with four different clubs: Capital Night Pool, Ntinda Giants, Mbale Pool Club, and recently with Roxberry Pool Club, making him a key man to watch. Now, Roxberry is no longer chasing history; they are defending it.
Placed in a competitive group alongside Kireka, last season’s runners-up Upper Volta, and former winners Mbale, the champions enter the fray as paper favourites. The highlight fixture of the opening weekend pits Roxberry against Upper Volta, with all eyes also on national champion Caesar Chandiga, a long-term target of the champions whose club allegiance remains a central talking point.
The Beluga Lounge schedule features
- 11:00 AM – Kireka Vs Upper-Volta
- 11:00 AM – Rox Berry Vs Mbale
- 2:30 PM – Kireka Vs Rox Berry
- 2:30 PM – Upper-Volta Vs Mbale
- 6:00 PM – Kireka Vs Mbale
- 6:00 PM – Upper-Volta Vs Rox Berry
Action is equally fierce elsewhere. At iTaano Arena in Mukono, a new-look Greater Mukono hosts Pot-It, Sinkers, and E-Play. Head coach Ben Kinene admitted uncertainty given the prolonged layoff. Despite sweeping all opponents home and away previously, Kinene remains cautious about home crowd nerves affecting his players.
Greater Mukono lost captain Patrick Sekilime to greener pastures and dropped Ronald Akampurira ‘Kamwany’ and Ivan Kafuleka, but bolstered their ranks with five additions, headlined by experienced campaigners Julius ‘Bisimba’ Ssemanda and Willy Yiga alongside rookies.
The iTaano Arena schedule features:
- 11:00 AM – Pot-It Vs Greater Mukono
- 11:00 AM – Sinkers Vs E-Play
- 2:30 PM – Pot-It Vs Sinkers
- 2:30 PM – Greater Mukono Vs E-Play
- 6:00 PM – Pot-It Vs E-Play
- 6:00 PM – Greater Mukono Vs Sinkers
At New Base Hotel in Nansana, the battle lines are drawn among Tororo Tigers, Club 408, Scrap Buyers, and Wakiso City:
- 11:00 AM – Tororo Tigers Vs Club 408
- 11:00 AM – Scrap Buyers Vs Wakiso City
- 2:30 PM – Tororo Tigers Vs Scrap Buyers
- 2:30 PM – Club 408 Vs Wakiso City
- 6:00 PM – Tororo Tigers Vs Wakiso City
- 6:00 PM – Club 408 Vs Scrap Buyers
Meanwhile, Adi’s Spot in Kireka plays host to Capital Night, Nakawa Pool Rangers, Adi’s, and Corporate Shooters:
- 11:00 AM – Capital Night Vs Nakawa Pool Rangers
- 11:00 AM – Corporate Shooters Vs Adi’s
- 2:30 PM – Capital Night Vs Corporate Shooters
- 2:30 PM – Nakawa Pool Rangers VsAdi’s
- 6:00 PM – Corporate Shooters Vs Nakawa Pool Rangers
- 6:00 PM – Adi’s Vs Capital Night
With Upper-Volta, third-placed Scrap Buyers, and ambitious contenders all eager to make an early statement, Sunday’s opening round offers an immediate glimpse into whether Roxberry can sustain their crown or if the chasing pack has found the formula to close the gap.