By Johannah Nantongo
Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, held discussions with Clare Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of NBA Africa, on ways to strengthen and professionalize basketball development in Uganda.
The meeting, which took place on Wednesday, also brought together Nicholas Mutebi, Regional Partnerships and Sponsorships Manager at NBA Africa, as well as Ugandan journalist and commentator Andrew Mwenda.
During the engagement, Gen. Kainerugaba expressed strong support for deeper collaboration with NBA Africa, noting that basketball has the potential to play an important role in youth empowerment and national sports development. The discussions focused on NBA Africa’s broader strategy of partnering with governments and private sector players across the continent to grow a sustainable basketball ecosystem.
A major highlight of the talks was the proposal to introduce an NBA Junior League in Uganda. The initiative is expected to be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports (Uganda) and other key stakeholders.
The proposed junior league would create structured competitions for secondary school students, giving thousands of young basketball players an opportunity to develop their skills in an organized environment. Beyond athletic development, the program aims to nurture life skills such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, and resilience.
Both sides recognized the increasing popularity of basketball in Uganda, particularly at the school level where competitions are already widely organized. Uganda has also made its presence felt in continental competitions. Clubs such as the Uganda City Oilers and the Namuwongo Blazers have previously represented the country in the Basketball Africa League.
Building on this progress, the meeting explored further partnerships between NBA Africa and government institutions to support structured talent development programs and strengthen the local basketball framework.
Other potential areas of cooperation discussed included organizing basketball training clinics, blending sports with culture and entertainment during events, and using basketball networks and personalities to promote tourism in Uganda.
Participants also emphasized the economic opportunities that come with a well-developed sports ecosystem. According to NBA Africa, professional basketball events can stimulate growth across several sectors such as hospitality, transportation, digital services, the creative industry, infrastructure development, and event management.