National Basketball League (Uganda)

The National Basketball League is a semi-professional basketball league in Uganda that is the highest division of men's basketball in the country.[1] The league currently consists of 13 teams.

National Basketball League
Organising bodyFUBA
Founded1995
First season1995
CountryUganda
ConfederationFIBA Africa
Number of teams12
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toDivision 1
International cup(s)Africa Champions Cup
Current championsCity Oilers (8th title)
(2022)
Most championshipsCity Oilers (8 titles)
WebsiteOfficial website
2022 NBL Uganda season

Established in 1995, media often highlights the league's physicality.[2] The City Oilers dominated during the 2010s, winning seven straight NBL titles. The Oilers are the league's most decorated team with 8 won championships.

History

Basketball was introduced in Uganda in 1962, by the American Peace Corps and East African teachers. During the 1970s and 80s, economic hardship in the country meant a decline of the sport in the country as many schools abandoned the game.[3]

A national basketball league was founded in 1995 and started with six teams: the Kyambogo Warriors, Blue Jackets, Black Power, Rhino, Sky Jammers and Makerere University. Since 2003, the league was expanded with a second-level league, named Division 1. Since 2019, there has also been a third level named Division 2.[4]

Current clubs
Team Location
City Oilers Silver Springs, Kampala
Ndejje University Ndejje University, Kampala
Betway Power Y.M.C.A, Kampala
Our Saviour Makerere University, Kampala
Kampala Universe (Men) Kampala University, Kampala
Kyambogo Warriors Kyambogo, Kampala
UCU Canons Uganda Christian University, Kampala
JKL Dolphins Namboole, Kampala
KIU Titans Kampala International University, Kampala
Sharing Youth Sharing Youth, Kampala
Falcons Makerere University, Kampala
KCCA Men Nakasero Primary School, Kampala

Past champions
The City Oilers celebrating winning the 2022 season
Season Champion Finalist Finals score Ref.
1995 Makerere
1996 Power
1997 Charging Rhino
1998 Falcons
1999 Falcons (2)
2000 Sadoline Power (2)
2001 Sky Jammers
2002 Falcons (3)
2003 Falcons (4)
2004 Falcons (5)
2005 Nkumba Marines
2006 Nkumba Marines (2)
2007 Falcons (6) Kyambogo Warriors 3–2 [5]
2008 Sadoline Power (3) Falcons 3–1 [6]
2009 Kyambogo Warriors
2010 DMark Power (4) Kyambogo Warriors 4–3 [7]
2011 DMark Power (5) Kyambogo Warriors 3–0 [8]
2012 Kyambogo Warriors (2) Falcons [9]
2013 City Oilers Falcons [5]
2014 City Oilers (2) Power 4–0 [10]
2015 City Oilers (3) UCU Canons 4–3 [11]
2016 City Oilers (4) Betway Power 4–1 [12]
2017 City Oilers (5) Betway Power [13]
2018 City Oilers (6) Betway Power [14]
2019 City Oilers (7) UCU Canons 4–3 [15]
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [16]
2021
2022 City Oilers (8) Nam Blazers 4–3 [17]

Titles by team
Team Wins Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
City Oilers 7 0 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 –
Falcons 6 3 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 2008, 2012, 2013
Power 5 4 1996, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
Kyambogo Warriors 2 3 2009, 2012 2007, 2010, 2011
Nkumba Marines 2 0 2005, 2006 –
Makerere University 1 0 1995 –
Charging Rhino 1 0 1997 –
Sky Jammers 1 0 2001 –
UCU Canons 0 2 – 2015, 2019
Nam Blazers 0 1 – 2022

Individual awards

Each year, the FUBA Awards are held, and the most valuable player of the league is named.[18]

Year Most Valuable Player Playoffs MVP Top Scorer Ref.
2013 Bernard Okumu (Vegetarians) Kami Kabange (Oilers) Kami Kabange (Oilers) [19]
2014 Jimmy Enabu (Oilers) Kami Kabange (2) (Oilers) [20]
2015 Brian Namake (UCU Canons) Kami Kabange (Oilers) Kami Kabange (3) (Oilers) [21]
2017Jordin Mayes (Oilers) Asher Sserugo

(Oilers)

 Jordin Mayes (Oilers) [22]
2018 Michael Makiadi (Power) Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) Michael Makiadi (Power) [23]
2019 Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) James Okello (Oilers) Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) [24]
2020 Syrus Kiviiri (Power) James Okello (2) (Oilers) Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) [18]
2022 TBA James Okello (3) (Oilers) TBA [25]

Division 1 and Division 2 winners

The FUBA also organises the Division 1 (second level) and Division 2 (third level) leagues.

Season Winners Runners-up
2019[26] UDPF Tomahawks Nam Blazers
2018[27] KU Falcons

References
  1. City Oil eases past Phenoms, New Vision-Uganda news. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  2. Mister City Oilers! John Vianney Nsimbe (The Observer), 13 February 2020. Accessed 29 June 2021.
  3. "HISTORY OF THE BASKETBALL IN UGANDA. – Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations". fuba.basketball. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. "BASKETBALL : FUBA lower division leagues return | Swift Sports Uganda". 23 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. "The rise, fall and fall of 'giant' Falcons". Monitor. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  6. "Sadolin Power are FUBA champions". New Vision. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. "Power fought for 2010 basketball title". New Vision. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  8. "Uganda: Power Beat Warriors to Win Fuba Championship - Ghanamma.com". Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  9. Juruni eyes 2013 Basketball crown, NewVision.co.ug, 17 May 2013. Accessed 16 May 2017.
  10. Nakato, Aisha (11 December 2014). "[PHOTOS] City Oilers Beat Power To Retain Basketball Championship". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  11. Kaweru, Franklin (16 December 2015). "City Oilers beat UCU to win third straight NBL title". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  12. "City Oilers power their way to fourth crown". Monitor. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  13. "City Oilers are PEPSI National Basketball League champions - afrobasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  14. "City Oilers win sixth Uganda basketball championship". 18 October 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  15. "City Oilers win 7th straight Ugandan championship". BAL Report. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  16. "FUBA cancels basketball league". The Independent Uganda. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  17. Kawalya, Brian (15 October 2022). "NBL Finals: City Oilers Silence Nam Blazers To Extend Invincibility". Live from ground. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  18. Muyita, Joel (7 March 2020). "Okello, Akello win top gongs at FUBA Awards". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  19. "Kami Kabangu Crowned 2013 Basketball MVP". 10 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  20. Eupal, Felix. "MVP Enabu comes of age in basketball". The Observer - Uganda. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  21. "Achieng, Kabange crowned 2015 Basketball's finest players". Kawowo Sports. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  22. "Register". Retrieved 30 September 2021 – via Facebook.
  23. "Achieng, Kabange crowned 2015 Basketball's finest players". Kawowo Sports. 29 February 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  24. Kaweru, Franklin (8 April 2019). "FUBA rewards excellence at Awards Dinner". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  25. "Oilers win eighth NBL Championship in eight years". Monitor. 15 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  26. "UPDF win Division One Championship – Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations". fuba.basketball. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  27. "BASKETBALL : FUBA lower division leagues return | Swift Sports Uganda". 23 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2022.


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