FUBA defends City Oilers’ player registration amid protest

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) Competitions Council (CC) has defended the registration of City Oilers’ new signings, Chad Bowie and Kurt Curry, asserting that the club adhered to all required procedures during the transfer window.

This clarification follows a formal protest from JT Jaguars owner, Dr. JT Nyangenya, who wrote to the council on August 24, questioning whether the Oilers had been unfairly permitted to use digital signings.

In its official response, the Competitions Council dismissed the allegations.

“To claim that the President or certain members of the CC reportedly permitted the players to sign is uncalled for, because no team or player requires his or the CC’s express permission—it is already provided for in the rules,” the council stated.

According to the council, Bowie and Curry physically signed their team rosters on June 26, 2025, and subsequently scanned and submitted them via email on July 27—still within the valid transfer window.

“Physical signing, to us, means that the actual player signs the team roster—not anyone else,” the council emphasized.

City Oilers had officially submitted their request to register the two players on June 23, 2025. The registration was verified and accepted, confirming their eligibility for the upcoming playoffs.

However, rival clubs have voiced dissatisfaction. Officials from JT Jaguars and Namuwongo Blazers argued that they also had players abroad during the same window but were informed that only physical appearances in Uganda would be accepted for registration.

They contended that if remote submissions were allowed, all teams should have been notified to ensure fairness. Concerns were also raised about the authenticity of the scanned signatures submitted by the Oilers.

Some critics suggested that while the Oilers may have exploited a procedural gap, the Competitions Council now faces scrutiny over perceived favoritism and inconsistency.

Despite the protests, the ruling stands—Bowie and Curry will feature in the playoffs as the 10-time champions City Oilers pursue an 11th league title. Their quarterfinal showdown against the JT Jaguars is already being billed as one of the season’s most anticipated matchups.

The Competitions Council concluded by reaffirming that digital or virtual signings are not yet recognized in Ugandan basketball, stressing that only physical signatures remain valid for player registration.