Jovoc Open Basketball Tournament set for March 7
The one-day championship, which serves as the Western Region’s premier basketball event, attracts schools from across the region and beyond.
Teams contest for the ball during the previous edition of the Western Schools Basketball championship last year Courtesy Photo
The 13th edition of the Jovoc Open Basketball Tournament has been scheduled for March 7, 2026, at St. Joseph Vocational School in Mbarara.
The one-day championship, which serves as the Western Region’s premier basketball event, attracts schools from across the region and beyond.
Tournament director Alex Byamukama confirmed that preparations are complete and promised a bigger, better event this year.
“Our main objective is to develop the sport in secondary schools in the Western region, and we have achieved it because now we have over 40 teams,” Byamukama said.
He added that the focus remains on identifying talent and raising the quality of basketball in the West so that teams can compete favorably with those from the central region.
Since its inception in 2013, the Jovoc Open has drawn schools from the central region, including Elite High School Entebbe, Ndejje SS, Exodus College Wakiso, St. Noa Girls SS Zana, Bethel Covenant College, and Seroma Christian High School.
The tournament has also produced players who have gone on to shine at national and international levels, such as Maluach Khaman, now with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, Sam Kalwanyi, a former City Oilers star, and Peter Obleng, who plays for the Namuwongo Blazers in the National Basketball League and represents Uganda on the national team.
Byamukama noted that this year’s edition will serve as preparation for Western schools ahead of the National Secondary Schools Basketball Qualifiers and the National Championship.
Each participating school will receive a basketball and a set of uniforms from the organizers, further boosting the development of the sport in the region.
Past winners
BOYS CATEGORY
2013. - JOVOC
2014. - Nyakasura School
2015. - Kabale Trinity College
2016. - Nyakasura School
2017. - Kabale Trinity College
2018. - Masaka SS
2019. - Nakivale Youth Basketball Academy
2020. - Ndejje SS
2021. - COVID
2022. - Bethel Covenant College
2023. - Nakivale Youth Basketball Academy
2024. - Elite High School Entebbe
2025. - Elite High School Entebbe
2026. -
GIRL'S CATEGORY
2013. - Maryhill
2014. - Maryhill
2015. - St. Mary's Voc School Kyamuhunga.
2016. - Maryhill
2017. - Maryhill
2018. - Exodus College.
2019. - Exodus College
2020. - St. Noa Girls SS.
2021. - COVID
2022. - St. Noa Girls SS
2023. - Ndejje SS
2024. - Elite High School
2025. - Maryhill