Jocelyn Ucanda’s first year as Netball Uganda president marks a turning point

The first year of Jocelyn Ucanda as president of Netball Uganda has been hailed as a resounding success, signaling that the sport is on the path to redemption after years of turmoil that culminated in the National Council of Sports (NCS) revoking the federation’s certificate of recognition in 2023.

Reflecting on her journey, Ucanda expressed gratitude and pride, attributing her achievements to a higher power.

“I entered office in January last year when everything was at ground zero,” she said.

“I had to start by reinstating the national netball super league to bring players back to the court after two years of abandonment. I’m grateful that the season ran for the entire year and concluded with KCCA Netball Club emerging as champions.”

She apologized to KCCA management for the miscommunication that led to the trophy not being presented on the day of the final at Hamz Stadium, but reassured them that their achievement would be honoured.

“We have organised a grand award ceremony for all netball achievers in 2025, scheduled for next month, where KCCA will receive their well-deserved trophy,” she announced.

Ucanda highlighted several milestones during her first year. The National Netball Super League was successfully completed, referees underwent a refresher course and handled games with professionalism, and a media partnership with Vision Group provided live coverage of the league on Bukedde TV 2 and WAN Luo TV.

Uganda also dominated the 2025 East Africa Netball Club Championship in Zanzibar, where NIC won gold, KCCA silver, and Uganda Prisons bronze.

On the international stage, the She Cranes made history by winning the Celtic Netball Cup in Glasgow, Scotland, without losing a single game, despite financial challenges. Just a week later, they secured silver at the Africa Netball Championship in Malawi.

Despite these successes, Ucanda acknowledged persistent challenges. The lack of proper facilities has forced the league to rely on Hamz Stadium, where fixtures are often disrupted by scheduling conflicts. The federation’s certificate of recognition remains revoked, and she is working with authorities to have it reinstated.

Another issue is the underutilization of executive members, with most decisions revolving around the president. Key figures such as William Bwambale (1st Vice President Administration), Richard Muhumuza (2nd Vice President Technical), Amina Mmande (General Secretary), and Yusuf Kamulegeya (Treasurer) have not been fully engaged in their roles.

Looking ahead, Ucanda emphasized the need for a full secretariat, including a CEO and dedicated staff, to manage the sport more effectively. She also stressed the importance of establishing a media team to manage the federation’s website and social media platforms, ensuring timely access to results, fixtures, and news.

Securing sponsorships to reduce reliance on government funding is another priority, but she noted that sponsors will only come on board if the federation demonstrates strong organization and professionalism.

Ucanda also called for the revival of the She Pearls, the under-21 national team, to nurture young talent and feed the senior squad. She believes organizing tournaments across Uganda’s eight regions will help identify new players.

Additionally, she emphasized the need to create agents and international connections to help players turn professional. Currently, Uganda has only one professional netballer, Mary Nuba Cholhok, who plays for the Queensland Firebirds in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League.

Ucanda’s first year has restored hope in Ugandan netball, but the road ahead requires stronger governance, better facilities, and investment in youth development. With her determination and vision, Netball Uganda is poised to reclaim its place on the continental and global stage.