The weight of expectation sits heavy on the shoulders of the reigning champions, but KCCA women’s volleyball team captain Claire Najjuko remains unshaken.
As the Uganda Volleyball National Club Championship unfolds at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono, Najjuko insists that her side possesses the resilience and quality needed to retain their crown despite a disrupted, unpredictable opening day.
Coming off the 2025 campaign where KCCA swept both the men’s and women’s titles, the women routing Sport-S 3-0 in the final, the Kampala-based powerhouse arrived in Mukono marked as the team to beat. Yet, their title defence began under unusual circumstances that left the pool standings finely poised.
“It’s really hard for me to predict our performance today because our very first game was a walkover. The team we had to play didn’t come. We have played the second game with UPDF, and we have won 3-0, and we haven’t played our third game in a pool,” Najjuko explained, highlighting how limited court time has hampered their ability to gauge early momentum.
While KCCA’s women comfortably dispatched UPDF in straight sets (26-6, 25-15, 25-13) in Pool A, the lack of a proper opening match leaves them hungry for a stiffer test. For Najjuko, the battle goes beyond mere scores; it is about managing a target painted squarely on their backs.
“So it’s really hard for me to predict whether we shall top it or someone else will top the table. Us being the defending champions, the pressure is really high because almost everyone is looking at us. Are we going to defend that trophy or are we going to let it go?
“As captain, we can defend this trophy regardless of whatever is going to happen. The teams we are going to meet, I still believe we can defend that trophy and take it back home.”
The women’s competition, divided into four pools, delivered contrasting fortunes and intense drama right out of the gate;
● Pool A: KCCA defeated UPDF 3-0, while hosts UCU edged UPDF 3-1, recovering from a tight 24-26 third-set loss to win 25-19, 25-18, 24-26, and 25-19.
● Pool B: Sport-S dominated COBAP in a 3-0 sweep (25-17, 25-11, 25-11), and Nemostars made a strong statement by overcoming BSU 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-14).
● Pool C: KCB-Nkumba emerged as one of the day’s most impressive sides, sweeping Seroma 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) before crushing Thunders 3-0 (25-12, 25-12, 25-7). Meanwhile, Seroma bounced back from that opening defeat to edge KAVC 3-2 in a five-set thriller, taking the decider 15-5.
● Pool D: VVC opened with a 3-0 win over KU (25-22, 25-15, 25-19) and followed up with another 3-0 triumph against Sport-S B (25-21, 25-22, 25-18). KU responded with a commanding 3-0 victory over St. Charles (25-13, 25-12, 25-11).
For St. Charles Lwanga Ntinda Volleyball Club head coach Casandra Nabatanzi, the tournament serves as a vital diagnostic tool to measure progress against the country’s elite clubs.
“Every time we come for a championship like this one, it’s always a good chance to check ourselves. So today has been really informative to see how our training has been going, what we’ve been working on. Is it working for us? Do we need to change something? So it’s always a good learning experience for us to see how we are doing, how well we are faring against our opponents and see what we can do better when we go home,” Nabatanzi noted.
Despite the stiff competition, Nabatanzi harbours lofty goals: “I expect the lads to go all the way to the final and take the championship. That is why we are here. It’s very tight. It’s not really clear-cut who’s going to take it. So we’re hoping to take part of the spoils.”
Men’s Division delivers early drama
The men’s championship matched the women’s intensity with a flurry of gripping encounters:
● Pool A: Mutungo survived a five-set thriller against Tigers, prevailing 15-12 in the decider, while KCCA’s men started strong with a 3-0 win over KU (25-20, 25-19, 25-22).
● Pool B: Nemostars defeated UPDF 3-1 and returned to sweep Prisons 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-17). Elyon also swept Gulu City 3-0.
● Pool C: Sport-S opened with a 3-0 win over Bukedea. Bukedea later pushed KAVC to the limit before falling 3-2 in a dramatic five-setter that ended 19-17 in the fifth. Police also rallied from a set down to defeat SKY 3-1.
● Pool D: UCU cruised past NemoGuards 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-16), and St. Charles overcame BSU 3-0 (27-25, 27-22, 25-20).
With opening day jitters settled and group standings beginning to take shape, the second day of competition in Mukono promises to be decisive in who leaves or stays in the group.