KCCA Men's Volleyball Club withdraws from CAVB African Championship

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Men’s Volleyball Club has confirmed it will not participate in the 47th CAVB Men’s African Club Volleyball Championship in Kigali, Rwanda, scheduled from April 20 to May 2.

Speaking to Vision Sports, General Secretary Ronald Musigo explained that the club had to make a difficult but necessary financial decision.

“It was too expensive to sponsor two teams for a continental championship. The costs are nearly the same for Cairo and Kigali except for the air tickets. The team was 100 percent sponsored by KCCA, so it was quite expensive,” Musigo said.

The club has framed the withdrawal as a strategic decision aimed at sustainability while maintaining a continental presence.

Focus has now shifted to the women’s team, who are representing Uganda in Cairo, an opportunity they missed in 2024 despite qualifying.

“In 2024, the KCCA ladies were supposed to travel for the Africa Club Championship after winning the UVF league in 2023 but didn’t make it at the last minute. This time, the girls had to be compensated for the missed opportunity,” Musigo explained.

For the men’s team, missing out on the Kigali championship is a tough blow, but one they have handled with maturity.

“The boys missing the championship in Kigali is hard on them, but they are warriors and have been able to accept and cope with the situation. They trust the institution. They have remained training in preparation for next season and any other tournament,” he added.

KCCA management insists the decision aligns with a broader long-term plan to build a competitive and sustainable volleyball programme.

“Every year, the plan is to participate in major local tournaments, CAVB Zone V, and at least one international tournament. So, the boys know if they qualify, their chances are high that it is them who will fly out and participate in the championship,” Musigo noted.

He also spoke about the importance of structured planning in managing the club’s ambitions.

“We run a dedicated budget and work plan. Management sits and plans for the financial year and allocates funds to priority areas, so international tournaments, though expensive, will be considered,” he said.

KCCA’s return to continental volleyball after more than 50 years  having last featured in 1988, reflects the club’s renewed ambition to compete consistently at the highest level.

“KCCA representing at the Africa Club Championship is testament to the growth of volleyball in Uganda, and we take things seriously. KCCA is holding Uganda’s flag in the women’s championship,” Musigo said.

Uganda was initially set to be represented by three clubs at the championship: Sport-S Volleyball Club, Nemostars Volleyball Club, and KCCA Volleyball Club. However, with KCCA withdrawing, Nemostars and Sport-S remain as the two Ugandan representatives.

Up to 27 teams have expressed interest in the competition, with East African clubs expected to dominate entries due to the proximity of the host country.

Host nation Rwanda will be represented by APR Volleyball Club, Police Volleyball Club Rwanda, and Kepler Volleyball Club. Other strong teams expected include General Service Unit, Kenya Ports Authority, and Equity Bank from Kenya, while Egyptian giants Al Ahly and Zamalek are also among the registered sides.

Libya’s Swehly Sports Club won the 2025 edition after defeating Espérance Sportive de Tunis in the final held in Misrata, Libya.

Women’s team struggles in Cairo

Meanwhile, KCCA’s women’s team has endured a challenging start at the 2026 CAVB Women’s African Volleyball Club Championship in Cairo, losing their opening three Pool C matches.

They fell 3-1 to Nigeria Customs Service despite winning the first set, before suffering straight-set defeats to Tunisia’s CF Carthage (25-16, 25-17, 25-10) and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (25-20, 25-20, 25-16).

Drawn in one of the toughest pools, KCCA remain without a point alongside DR Congo’s Les Aigles. Carthage lead with nine points, followed by Nigeria Customs Service on six and DCI on three.

With four teams from each pool qualifying for the Round of 16, KCCA still have a slim mathematical chance of progressing. Their final group match against Les Aigles on Friday is now decisive. To keep their hopes alive, KCCA must win in straight sets, rely on favourable results elsewhere, particularly a heavy defeat for DCI, and significantly improve their set ratio to overturn the current deficit.