Daniel Muclobo the Namuwongo Blazers CEO speaking to reporters at UMC
By George Bukenya
Uganda has started reaping the benefits of developing modern sports infrastructures as Hoima City Arena Stadium attracts hosting the Bal 2027 East Division D Group D Basketball Africa Qualifiers after Namuwongo Blazers won to host the tournament.
This comes at a time as Kitara Football Club is hosting Egyptian side Al ahly SC in the CAF Confederation Cup second qualifying round this Saturday, October 17, 2026 on the same stadium.
According to Daniel Muttubol Obol, Namuwongo Blazers the host club’s Chief Executive Officer, the four club tournament will attract clubs from South Sudan (Patriots Basketball), Burundi (Urunani BC), Madagascar (COSPN), and Comoros (Ushundzi Basket) and the tournament will run from October 21 to 25.
Speaking at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre, Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) chief executive officer Marcus Kwikiriza described the tournament as a significant milestone for Ugandan basketball and an opportunity to promote the country’s sporting facilities, tourism and hospitality.
“The five-day international tournament will give Ugandan basketball fans an opportunity to witness continental competition on home soil while showcasing the country’s growing capacity to host major sporting events,’’ Kwikiriza said.
Kwikiriza also said the qualifiers are an important step in the journey towards the BAL finals, with the top two teams from the group expected to advance to the Elite 16 stage, where they will continue their fight for a place in Africa’s premier basketball competition.
“This is the first tournament of this kind that Uganda is hosting at our new international-standard facility in Hoima City,” Kwikiriza said, highlighting the importance of the event to the country’s sporting fraternity.
He added that hosting the competition would give Uganda an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to organise international sporting events while promoting Hoima, the country’s oil city, and the wider tourism appeal of the Pearl of Africa.
Namuwongo Blazers ready for the challenge
Namuwongo Blazers chief executive officer Daniel Muchiobo said the club was honoured to become the first Ugandan team to host the competition, following years in which local clubs had to travel to neighbouring countries to participate in the qualifiers.
Muchiobo noted that Namuwongo Blazers and City Oilers have represented Uganda in previous editions, often playing away from home in countries such as Tanzania and Kenya.
He said hosting the tournament in Hoima would make it easier for Ugandan fans to support their team and give basketball followers from neighbouring countries an opportunity to attend the games.
“This is not just about Namuwongo Blazers; this is about Uganda. We want our people to come out, wear their jerseys and support the country,” Muchiobo said.
To strengthen the squad, the club has recruited foreign players from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States, Nigeria and Senegal, adding experience and depth as it targets qualification for the next stage.
Muchiobo said the club was confident of putting up a strong performance, stressing that hosting the tournament came with the responsibility of competing for qualification.
“We do not want to host the tournament and fail to qualify. We believe we can top this stage,” he said.
According to Muchiobo, each ticket will serve as a full-day pass, allowing fans to watch all the games scheduled for that day rather than paying separately for each match.
Marcus Kwikiriza FUBA Chief Executive Officer addressing the media
The proposed weekday tip-off times are 4pm and 7pm, while weekend games are expected to start at 2pm and 5pm. The final schedule is subject to confirmation.
The club will also sell its merchandise at cost price to encourage supporters to turn up in Namuwongo Blazers colours and rally behind Uganda’s representatives.
Tourism boost for Hoima
Beyond basketball, organisers hope the tournament will help showcase Hoima City and Uganda’s tourism attractions to visiting teams, officials and supporters.
Kwikiriza said the Uganda Tourism Board and other partners would support efforts to give visitors a taste of the country’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, depending on the competition schedule.
Possible excursions around Hoima and nearby areas, including parts of the Masindi route, are being considered. However, organisers said basketball commitments, training, recovery and the costs associated with the teams’ stay would determine what activities could be accommodated.
The tournament is supported by partners including the Uganda Tourism Board, Cornerstone, NIC Insurance, Nile Breweries, Crown Beverages through its Mountain Dew brand, Medipal, Machame and Samanga.
With five days of continental basketball on the calendar, the competition is expected to provide a major test for Namuwongo Blazers while giving Ugandan fans a rare opportunity to experience the Road to BAL without travelling beyond the country.
For Hoima, the event also presents an opportunity to put its new arena, hospitality and tourism potential in the international spotlight as Uganda seeks to
He said tickets for the games will go on the market very soon at the ordinary will go for shs 25,000 for the day games, VIP shs50,000 and VVIP shs 15,0000.
Tickets will be available through the online ticketing platform announced by the organisers, with payment options including MTN Mobile Money, Airtel payments, Visa and MasterCard.