Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) has confirmed the squads for the FIBA U16 Africa Championships.
Uganda will send two teams – The Junior Silverbacks (Boys) and Junior Gazelles (Girls) – for the Championship in Monastir, Tunisia due July 13-23.
The Boys qualified for the Championships after winning the FIBA U16 Zone Five tournament in Kigali, Rwanda last month.
Then, Uganda beat hosts Rwanda before easing past Tanzania.
Uganda’s best player at the tournament in Kigali Joel Tejan Rugette, is part of the travelling squad.
But five players – Bono Mujuni, Najimal Latim, Ladho Emmanuel, Mayen Gany Madul and Owiny Zuri – have not made the cut from the team that featured in Kigali.
This will be the second time the Boys are playing at the championship after their debut in the previous edition in 2021 in Egypt.
On their debut, Uganda finished fifth out of the six teams, with their only win coming against Gabon.
The Girls on the other hand, qualified to Tunisia by virtue of finishing fourth from the previous tournament in Egypt.
And this will be the third time the Junior Gazelles are playing at this stage having finished fifth (Rwanda, 2019) and fourth (Tunisia, 2021) in the previous editions.
It’s strong to note that this tournament will serve as a qualifier for the FIBA U17 World Championship 2024.
The winner and the runners-up in Tunisia in both Boys and Girls categories will punch their tickets for next year’s World Cup.
Mali (Women) and Egypt (Men) are the defending champions from the 2021 tournament in Egypt
Uganda teams squads
Boys – Joel Tejan Rugette, Harry Tindebwa, Aaron Makmot, Isaac Munashe, Terrence Obua, Victor Mwesigwa, Trinity Kwizera, Amos Mugisha, Christian Aine, Newton Kayongo, Keon Walusimbi, Calvin Ssenkungu
Girls – Nalugo Patricia, Nakayenga Vanessa, Jane Nakera, Shiphra Kiranda, Angella Auma, Taliba Melissa, Bamanya Karabo, Alaba Belinda, Anyango Maxine, Namagembe Husna, Atim Olivia, Hope Nami Viglio
Technical Team
Barbra Okot (Head of Delegation), Michael Seger (Coach), John Omondi (Coach), Peace Nakirijja (Coach), Moses Okwera (Coach)
