I recently read on someone's WhatsApp status, "If you are an athlete, do your best while you still can because once you are gone, you are forgotten." I am unsure if there is a rebuttal to that statement, especially regarding our local athletes. We have seen examples of former World record-holders receiving triumphant entries upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport before drowning in periods of inefficiency and uttermost poverty. But looking at the International scene, countries have mastered how to keep their legends relevant even when their records have been broken. Who doesn't know Eluid Kipchoge? Does the name Micheal Jordan ring a bell? Billie Jean King has long overdue retired, but her presence at any sporting event is as relevant as when she won the first Wimbledon final in 1966.
The final squad for the Gazelles National was announced, and it has steered excitement in given that eighty percent of the players are new faces washing away the old squad. The named twelve will represent Uganda at the FIBA Afro Basketball Games in Kigali from the 28th of July to the 7th of August. I decided to look at the former squad that represented Uganda in the 2015 Afro Basketball games, the last time that Uganda played at that level. We appreciate those that wore that black, yellow, and red jersey and fought tooth and nail for the country.
Flavia Oketcho
Flavia Oketcho during a National Team training session. Image source: Toni Kamau FUBA
What can I write about her that you have yet to hear or know about? Flavia, aka Flirsh, her journey in basketball reigns and lives on. It's a legacy that will forever be talked about. She is Uganda's most decorated basketball player, with twelve National Basketball League (NBL) rings. She has played for over two decades, but every time she steps on the floor, it's like that is her first competitive match. She always brings the same unmatched energy to the floor. She balances both the defensive and offensive spectrum and violates the age hurdle. Watching her dive for a loose ball on the floor may cause you to declare the younger generation of athletes less competitive. She plays with whatever option you present her with. She will shoot 3s all day, but if you force her to take the drive, she will not hesitate to leave you regretting the decision. Very few point guards, as many as one or two, can go past her defense. She is capable of posting a double figure with steals inclusive. Unsurprisingly, she headlined the Afro Basketball Qualifier Games earlier this year at Lugogo Arena. You guessed it right; she is also the captain of this team that will be representing Uganda at the end of the month. Did you know she is a mother?
Trivia question; How many NBL MVP accolades does she hold? The answer is at the end of the article. She plays for the Just Kip Living (JKL) Dolphins.
2. Monica Siima
Monica Siima in the jersey of the Legends. Image Source: StoneImages
The tale that women become less athletic once they give birth continues to be overwritten by women. She is one of those women that have defied this tale. Visit Nakasero primary school in the evenings when there is a pick-up game and watch this woman play like a teen. I have personally played against her during pick-up games. One time, I landed on her screen and lost myself for seconds. She may not be the lady for those shots, but she will ensure you will not take that shot. She will single-handedly pick up all rebounds and feed her teammates. She is part of the newest yet oldest and most experienced Lower Division Basketball League team. Everyone who has played against her can testify to how much she is a defensive player. She is part of the managing team for the KCCA Basketball, both men and women.
3. Judith Nansobya
Judith Nansobya lifting weights. Image source: The Observer
How dare you leave Judith unmarked at the 3 pt line? Quick story. During the 2021 - 22 NBL, KCCA had a game against the Lady Marines of Nkumba. It was a scorching afternoon at the Kampala International University (KIU) grounds. KCCA is fond of breastfeeding its players. Precisely, they are one of the teams in the leagues that have nearly achieved excellent treatment of their players. One package that comes with signing for this team is providing meals on game days. That afternoon, the game was scheduled for 4:00 pm, so the team deemed it right to eat at around 1:00 pm. Hardly had they taken the last sip of their refreshments, then a FUBA official informed them that their game was next on the schedule. This set panic in the team. For the first time, I watched a game in slow motion. The Nkumba Marines that had come as underdogs gave a tough time to the KCCA squad, which is nearly packed with National Team material athletes. I saw a 5'2 Nkumba guard block a 6'3 KCCA post. Nkumba almost celebrated until Judith, commonly known as Ayo, came to the court. She shot 3 after 3 and gave KCCA a good lead. She made four 3's back to back. That is just a taste of Ayo, the 3-point assassin. Despite suffering knee complications, she is still actively playing. Ayo is the Dean of studies at Victoria University.
4. Sylivia Nakazibwe (Now Sylvester Kazibwe)
Sylvester after a game during the NBL 2022 Season. Image source: Viva/FUBA
Time flies, indeed. Sylvester, also known as Balotelli/Manu, displays great agility and ball-handling skills which awe the fans whenever they watch KCCA games. He is the person that will give you the least expected assist, so as a teammate, watch out. He is also very aggressive and is excellent at stealing balls. One better have good handles to come within his vicinity. He is the kind of player I would place in the same bracket as Ben Komakech of City Oil. His vast experience and longevity in the game make him a great masterpiece to any team. He is a funny and charismatic fellow if you ever get to interact with him—one who will crack a joke even at their lowest moments.
He is actively engaged in social activism.
5. Lisa Karungi De Ruijter
Lisa Karungi during a game in the Afrobasketball Games, Cameroon 2015. Image Source: FIBA
The Dutch Ugandan forward had only one stunt with the National Basketball Team and, ever since, has not been seen actively on the sports scene. Regardless, we honor her for showing up for the country when we needed her.
6. Rebecca Akullo
Return of the legends. Becky (center) poses for a picture upon her debut with the legends.
She made a surprise return to competitive basketball in the second leg of the Lower League Basketball, playing for the Legends (2022 - 2023 season). Rebecca is a left-handed assassin. She has barely played more than three games since her return, but youngsters in the league can't get over her strong left hand, which is already giving teams a hard time. She wholeheartedly represented Uganda and played for KCCA leopards. She is now part of the managing team for the KCCA Leopards and Panthers, competing in the NBL.
7. Moreen Amoding
Moreen Amoding at the Lugogo indoor arena. Image source: JT Jaguars
The pride of JT Jaguars. She was part of the earliest squad of JT Jaguars that won all the season's games in the Lower Basketball Division in the 2021-2022 season. This earned the team a promotion to the National Basketball League, and she is still showing up and showing out. She was called to camp for the National Team in preparation for the AfroBasketball qualifiers, but she did not make the cut. This did not crush her competitive or sportsmanship spirit as she is one of the people at the forefront of growing the fan base for the Gazelles. Moreen has also had a successful basketball career and has been on the National team since the age of 15. She is still actively engaged and found a niche in 3x3 basketball. There is a possibility of her making a return to the National Team.
8. Proscovia Peace
Peace Proscovia during a game for the Sunshine Coast Lightning. Image Source: Supernetball
It's common for girls to say they joined basketball crossing from netball. She is one of the athletes that had to juggle between netball and basketball before she found a firm ground in netball. She is one of the professional netball players Uganda boasts of. She has played for
professional teams Loughborough Lightning (2015 - 2018) in the United Kingdom before joining the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia(2019). She has captained the National Netball team at different levels, such as the World Cup Games and other Global tournaments. She was named on the provisional squad for the National Team for the 2023 World Cup Games in Cape Town, South Africa, but she opted out for personal reasons. She is currently playing for the Surrey Storm in the United Kingdom. She has often dismissed the belief that she could be a Britney Griner in Uganda's basketball as she believes her confidence is more rooted in netball. She is 6 ft 4 tall and has an extensive wingspan. Could her height have landed her a place in this squad?
9. Sharon Karungi
Sharon Karungi (center) with friends.
During the 2015 Afro Basketball Qualifiers, Uganda was at the blink of not qualifying for the games when Karungi came in blazing against the Egyptians to claim 23 points and 13 rebounds. This gave Uganda a chance to recover from the previous two losses it had suffered in the first two games against Kenya and Egypt. She played for Valparaiso University in Indiana for college. She is now known as the Queen of Happiness as she has mastered the art of throwing great events and parties. You may need to contact her for your next event though she is based in the US.
10. Vicky Ntale Nassolo
Vicky (right) during a training session for the National Team. Source: Toni Kamau/FUBA
She is currently the manager of the National Team. She is the sister to the Uganda songstress Irene Ntale, and genes do not discriminate as she can also vocalize gracefully. Her last competitive stint was with the KCCA leopards. She was involved in an unfortunate accident that nearly claimed her mobility, but thankfully, God restored it, as she still has a lot to offer to the Uganda basketball fraternity. This could have been the cream to her lingering decision to retire from competitive basketball. She still picks up once in a while at Fusion. Like in her competitive days, she still has an advantage in her physical build and height. She still contributes to the game but off the court. She is the team manager for the Gazalles, and her leadership skills directly translate from her great character on the court. She is also among the Ugandan basketball players that have a great career.
11. Muhayimina Namuwaya
Muhai during her time with the JKL Dolphins. Image source: Stone Images
Also known as Muhai, her online visibility leans towards netball. Yet another case of a netballer finding their way to the Gazelles, the National Basketball Team. It's a belief that transitioning from netball to basketball is relatively easy as one may focus solely on rebounds and shooting since netball also relies heavily on the two aspects. She represented Uganda at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2019 Netball World Cup games. Following the disclosure of the poor management of funds and athletes within the netball fraternity, Muhayimina was one of the athletes that silently chose to quit ways with netball. Probably, an occurrence that supports the assertion, "Once you are gone, you are forgotten." She wasn't called to the provisional squad for the 2023 Netball World Cup, which could satisfy the assertion to her remarks, "I don't want to talk about netball. Everything has been said since we returned. We have pridefully represented the country, but do you believe the reward has been worth it?" She also has had a great run with the National basketball as she won two championships with KCCA leopards (2012 and 2014), joined JKL in 2017, and now is plowing her aggressiveness in the formidable JT Jaguars.
12. Martha Soigi
Martha during the National Team vs Seect game at the Lugogo Arena. Image Source: Toni Kamau/FUBA
Just pass her the ball, and she will convert the two points and pick an and1 for the team. Martha is a deadly assassin in the paint and continues to defy the odds as a mother, two sports athletes, and a full-blown career woman. She makes another case for another basketball player with a netball foundation. Martha started playing basketball as a late bloomer when the legendary Birungi Mariam introduced her to the sport at Makerere University, Main Grounds. It was then that she joined Kyambogo Coment followed by Lady Bucs, and later on, the KCCA leopards took a bet on her.
She is still actively engaged in basketball playing for the KCCA Leopards. She is currently a sports administrator and lecturer at Kampala University. She also plays for the National Insurance Corporation Netball team.
One article written after a decade will not play a significant role in celebrating the people representing Uganda at different levels of competitive sports. It's our duty to devise systems that will create legacies for these athletes and keep them alive. KT RACH tournament is an example of a living legacy of a retired athlete that has continued to grow women's sports in Uganda. Not all athletes will grow to have tournaments named after them. Still, during their active playing time, it would be great if their efforts were rewarded with tangible achievements to improve their livelihoods and encourage the younger generation to look up to them.
We are heading to Kigali the next week to cheer for the Gazelles as they pour out their hearts for the sport and the nation during the FIBA Afrobasketball games.
NB: Flavia holds three NBL MVP accolades (2006, 2008, 2012).
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