For years, the memory of 2018 in Lusaka, Zambia stood as the golden peak for Uganda’s senior women’s national netball team, the She Cranes. That historic year, led by the towering presence of Peace Proscovia, Uganda conquered the continent to secure their second successive Africa Netball Championship title with an unbeaten run.
In the seasons that followed, the team consistently proved their mettle on global stages, cementing their world ranking with iconic top five finishes at the Commonwealth Games and the Netball World Cup.
Yet, despite their rising international status, the coveted continental trophy continuously eluded them, marked by agonisingly close calls and a heartbreaking defeat to archrivals South Africa in the 2025 final.
The agonising eight-year drought finally came to an end on September 26, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya, where the She Cranes scripted a magnificent redemption story.
Storming through the Africa Netball Cup tournament with an entirely unbeaten campaign, Uganda faced off against the defending champions, South Africa’s SPAR Proteas, in a highly anticipated final.
In a point-for-point tactical battle at the Kasarani Indoor Arena, the She Cranes displayed relentless defence and clinical shooting accuracy to edge out South Africa 56-53.
The victory officially restored the She Cranes as the undisputed Queens of African netball, completing a triumphant journey from their 2018 glory days straight back to the pinnacle of continental supremacy.
The Genesis of a Dream: From Lugogo to Nairobi
The journey to this monumental triumph truly began weeks prior, on September 14, 2026, at the Copper Chimney in Lugogo. There, Assistant General Secretary Administration Joseph Oluga, alongside Netball Uganda President Jocelyn Ucanda and other federation executives, officially flagged off the contingent. Travelling by bus to Nairobi alongside their male counterparts, head coach Rashid Mubiru’s squad carried the hopes of a nation.
Placed in a ferocious Pool 2 alongside heavyweights like Zambia, Malawi, Nigeria, and hosts Kenya, the She Cranes immediately laid down a marker. They opened their campaign with a resounding 68-30 demolition of tournament debutants Nigeria. Momentum only built from there as they swept past Zambia 59-40 and dominated the host nation Kenya 62-42.
The ultimate test of their group resolve came against the Malawi Queens. In a fiery, nerve-wracking thriller, Uganda survived a fierce second-half comeback to triumph 54-49, sweeping Pool 2 with a flawless record and a maximum of 8 points.
Behind the scenes, tournament drama unfolded when marathon discussions between organisers and team managers stretched until late on Wednesday, September 23. World Netball intervened with a format overhaul: because Uganda and South Africa had already secured automatic qualification for the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027 via their elite world rankings (sitting 6th and 5th respectively), the updated pathway dictated that the pool winners would clash directly in the final.
However, all was reversed by Netball Africa and before reaching that grand stage, the She Cranes had to navigate a tricky semi-final against Namibia on Friday, September 25. Clinging to a slender six-goal advantage at halftime, Uganda turned up the heat in the third quarter, turning the game into a commanding 12-goal cushion before sealing a comfortable 52-41 victory (carrying a 41-29 lead into the final period) to book their date with destiny.
Conquering the Proteas: The Grand Finale
On Saturday, September 26, 2026, the hardwood of the Kasarani Indoor Arena played host to a classic chapter of African netball history. Facing the formidable South African SPAR Proteas, the She Cranes left everything on the court. In a pulse-pounding, breathless 60-minute spectacle, Uganda outmanoeuvred and outfought the champions to secure a close 56–53 victory.
Lifting the continental trophy for the fourth time in history following past glories in Botswana (2014), Uganda (2017), and Zambia (2018), the She Cranes not only claimed redemption but also officially punched their ticket to the Sydney 2027 Netball World Cup.
For veteran Goal Attacker Racheal Nanyonga, the sole active survivor from Uganda’s historic 2015 Sydney squad, this qualification marked a deeply poetic, full-circle milestone as she looks toward her third global showpiece.
The Rock’s rise: A bronze journey for Uganda’s men
While the women’s team chased gold on the grand stage, Uganda’s national men’s netball team, The Rock, was busy forging an unforgettable narrative of its own under the tactical guidance of head coach Jesse Asiimwe.
Backed by Kampala University proprietor and Patron Professor Badru Ddungu Kateregga, the 14-player squad, featuring an exciting blend of seasoned tacticians, university standouts, and club stars from sides like WOB, Kampala University, and Legacy, arrived in Nairobi hungry to make history.
Competing in a gruelling men’s division against regional powerhouses including South Africa, Malawi, Eswatini, and hosts Kenya, The Rock displayed immense determination and physical resilience. Building upon the foundational steps of previous campaigns such as their runner-up finish in South Africa and a statement opening win against Botswana, the squad fought tooth and nail through the group phases.
In the third-place playoff match against tournament hosts Kenya, the Ugandan men delivered a tactical masterclass. Playing with fire in their hearts and discipline in their execution, The Rock outclassed the hosts 46-35 to capture a historic bronze medal.
This monumental podium finish represents Uganda’s best-ever performance at the continental level, drastically improving upon their fifth-place finish at the previous year’s Africa Netball Cup in Malawi.