The iCARRe Foundation is set to bring together some of East Africa’s finest Under-15 basketball talent for the inaugural regional edition of the BTG Showcase, scheduled for December 14 and 15, 2026, at Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.
The two-day event will feature young boys and girls from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, providing them with a platform to showcase their basketball abilities while gaining valuable lessons beyond the court.
With its origins in the United States, the BTG Showcase is making its East African debut through a partnership between iCARRe Basketball, an initiative under the iCARRe Foundation, and BTG Sports Management Group.
Uganda will have the largest representation, with six academies participating: iCARRe Basketball Academy, Holy Street Basketball Academy, Watoto Basketball Academy, Cabasa Basketball Academy, Ihoops Basketball Academy and Henrison Basketball Academy.
Kenya will be represented by Far East Basketball Academy while Tanzania will have Tyetye Basketball Academy, completing the regional line-up.
Unlike conventional youth basketball competitions, the BTG Showcase adopts an education-first approach, combining competitive basketball activities with structured sessions designed to equip young players with important life skills.
The programme will feature boys’ and girls’ All-Star games, individual skills challenges and three-point shooting contests, alongside mandatory sessions focusing on mental resilience, discipline and education.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of limited opportunities for many underprivileged children across East Africa to participate in basketball.
A lack of basic facilities, playing equipment and structured coaching programmes has continued to restrict access to the sport, particularly among children from disadvantaged communities.
In response, the iCARRe Foundation has spent the past two years investing in grassroots basketball development through free holiday training camps and psychosocial support programmes.
The camps have reached nearly 100 children during each holiday period, offering them opportunities to develop their basketball skills while receiving guidance and support in their personal development.
The programme is conducted under the guidance of renowned youth basketball coach Moses Okwera, who works closely with Tonny Drileba and other coaches to nurture the young players.
The BTG Showcase builds on this foundation by extending the platform beyond local training camps and introducing young players to regional competition and exposure.
By bringing together academies from three East African countries, the organisers hope to create an environment where emerging talent can compete, learn from one another and develop both on and off the court.
The emphasis on education and psychosocial development is central to the event’s philosophy, with the organisers seeking to ensure that young players understand the importance of discipline, resilience and academic commitment alongside their sporting ambitions.
For Uganda, the showcase also presents an opportunity to strengthen its youth basketball development structures by connecting local academies with counterparts from the region.
With eight academies expected to participate across the three countries, the inaugural East African edition is expected to provide a significant platform for the next generation of basketball players while reinforcing the role of sport in education and community development.
The BTG Showcase will be held on December 14 and 15 at Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala.
