Uganda Basketball Players Association (UBPA) president Paul Odong, commonly known as McGyver, has hailed the resounding success of the inaugural All-Star Fest, declaring that the landmark event marks a vital step toward unifying athletes, honouring legends, and revolutionising player welfare across the nation.
Held at a packed Lugogo Indoor Arena on Independence Day, Friday, October 9, 2026, the vibrant festival drew massive crowds for a full-day spectacle blending high-octane basketball, entertainment, and athlete advocacy.
“It’s been such a successful day,” a delighted Odong said following the event, admitting that the turnout far exceeded his initial expectations. “We were just trying to do our best and see what we could definitely do. But one thing we were very comfortable with was that the players were going to be around. And for me, it was quite a big surprise that people came in large numbers and filled up the place. Big shoutouts to all the fans for coming to support their players.”
A vision for unity and advocacy
Organized under the theme “After the Buzzer: Life Beyond the Court”, the festival brought together current stars, former icons, and passionate fans for a program that transcended ordinary competition to tackle the crucial issues impacting the sport.
The solemnity of the day began with a poignant candle-lighting ceremony in tribute to fallen basketball comrades who remain cherished in the hearts of the community. For Odong, the gathering offered a crucial platform to recognise the trailblazers who built Ugandan basketball from the ground up while establishing a firm shield for today’s athletes.
“The Uganda Basketball Players Association is a registered entity that has come to put players together and see how we can progress their careers, unity, like you say, play, honour, inspire and unite,” Odong emphasised. “Our aim is to improve the ecosystem of the basketball community and see how much we can unlock as a franchise. But most importantly, we have come in to protect the greatest assets for the game. And those are the players.”
He added: “We also wanted to pay a little bit of respect to those who went before us, the legends. Those who laid down the foundation for us, and just basically celebrate here.”
Beyond the court scores, UBPA utilised the festival to shed light on life after retirement and the systemic challenges athletes face. The association is pushing for comprehensive structural changes, advocating for enhanced player welfare, replacing informal verbal agreements with enforceable contracts, resolving financial disputes, and instituting reliable medical insurance coverage for all basketballers.
Two Months of Preparation Yield Immediate Dividend
The spectacular festival materialised just two months after UBPA’s official registration as a formal entity, following an initial grassroots awareness campaign. Odong warmly credited his executive leadership, financial backers, wellness partners, and supporters for bringing the vision to life.
“First of all, a big thank you to my team, the executive team, and a couple of sponsors and partners that came together to ensure we can make this happen,” Odong said. “We registered the entity about two months ago, and that’s when we came up with the concept. But long before, we had the idea of creating the association. So we started with awareness.”
The response from the players was overwhelming, with athletes embracing the initiative wholeheartedly.
“Extremely happy. They didn’t even ask for much. They were always saying, ‘Come, let’s celebrate together,’ and everyone was jumping on board,” Odong shared. “We give a big shoutout to the players for accepting this initiative and being able to showcase it to the entire world.”
Looking ahead, Odong confirmed that discussions are already underway to expand the festival next year: “Absolutely, even from the conversations we’re having with some of our partners and the fans, it has been a learning point. Some are saying this is where we can tweak. But above all, it has been a very, very successful event.”
Electric On-Court action and showbiz
Marking the official close of the 2026 domestic season, the festival seamlessly blended basketball with Ugandan showbiz, featuring 1v1 contests, skills challenges, live music, and diverse exhibition matches spanning the National Basketball League (NBL), Division One, Division Two, and adaptive sports.
Ugandan musician King Saha was the surprise act, pulling off an outstanding performance that got many on their feet with his “Wewe” song.
| Match Category | Winning Team | Defeated Team | Final Score |
| Main Event | Team Internationals | Team UG | 91 – 85 |
| Division 1 Women’s | Team Odong | Team Ayesiga | 86 – 79 |
| Exhibition Match 1 | Team Omara | Team Waleed | 66 – 62 |
| Exhibition Match 2 | Team Victoria | Team Afua | 60 – 56 |
| Special Exhibition | Team Referees | Team Managers | 48 – 44 |
| Adaptive Sports | Team Abubaker | Team Kiiza | 14 – 5 |
| Men’s Legends | Team Afidra | Team Sudi | Won |
Note: Women’s Legends and showcase matches featuring Team Olivia vs. Team Siima, alongside a dance-filled entrance of Team Shillah and Team Tracy, just like the City Oilers and Namuwongo Blazers fans, also captivated the Lugogo crowd.
In the end, Team Shillah and Namuwongo Blazers championed their respective games.
Main Event: Internationals edge out Team UG
The day’s crown jewel featured active stars across Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) divisions competing in a showdown between Team Internationals (sporting dark jerseys) and Team UG (wearing bright kits). In a thriller, Team Internationals held off a late push to win 91–85.
The winning Team Internationals roster featured Fataki Nyembo, Joel Banza, Chris Omanye Basheke, Agot Agot, Dunaro, Dushime Flore, Puati Ozias Kikomba, Ndibu Christian, Hon Kwany, Akok Peter, and Dieu Thuok Kuol.
Team UG assembled a formidable lineup featuring Tonny Drileba, Fayed Baale, Jimmy Enabu, Jimmy Otim, Davis Asiimwe, Mark Ngobi, Ekau Edrine, Duncan Lubwama, Joel Kayira, James Okello, Arthur Wanyoto, and Joshua Dualo.
Uganda national team captain Tonny Drileba expressed deep gratitude for the event, recalling that the last domestic All-Star game took place way back in 2019.
“The entire day, not just the game, was quite an experience. Considering the last time we had an All-Star game was, I think, 2019, for us to have an event this big means a lot,” Drileba noted. “It means the association is going in the right direction, but also the game for us as a country is going in the right direction. So I’m really glad it went the way it did.”
Drileba humorously reflected on the defeat: “If you take away the half-court shooting, I think we would have won this game, but kudos to them. They got the win. It’s very sad because in our team talk, we actually talked about not losing at home on Independence Day, but that’s the beauty of the game.”
He acknowledged that fitness played a factor: “We have a couple of guys that haven’t been working out, so they’re out of shape. But personally, it’s been on my mind because I’ve been engaged in the activities leading up to this event… I’m just glad the fans had a good time. I’m glad the event was very successful. I’m happy to see my brothers and play against them on the other side. They’re usually on the same team. But it’s also nice to be on opposite sides and get a feel for what it’s like to compete against them.”
Victorious player Fataki Nyembo echoed those sentiments: “The game was good. I think we did our best. I think fans enjoyed it and we are really happy about it.”
Next Stop: Blazers Turn Focus to Hoima
With the All-Star festivities concluded, attention swiftly shifts to the Namuwongo Blazers as they finalise preparations for a critical upcoming assignment in Hoima.
Drileba noted that intensity remains high: “Practice is crazy. We’re here right now, but there’s practice tomorrow. So we’re just practising, trying to do our best to get ready for those games.” When asked what fans should expect in Hoima, he responded: “This match should be the one to tell you that.”
Odong confirmed that squad members returning from holidays and international camps have rejoined the fold.
“All the players are back, those who had gone on holiday and maybe different camps. We continue our practice tomorrow, and then probably next week we shall be going down to Hoima as we prepare for the game,” Odong stated. “The fans, as you know, Blazers, always the energy, always the fun. Above all, just expect what you saw at Game 6 down in Hoima. We are definitely looking forward to qualifying and come in numbers and support the Blazers on the road to Hoima.”
Looking ahead, Nyembo added a confident message for the fans in Hoima: “We are going to do our best.”