Nam Blazers to carry Uganda's flag as Hoima hosts Road to BAL qualifiers

Namuwongo Blazers will carry Uganda's hopes when the country hosts the Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers for the first time at the Hoima City Arena from October 23-26.

The Ugandan champions will represent the country in East Division Group D, bringing continental basketball to Uganda after an earlier attempt to host the competition in 2022 was moved to Tanzania because of an Ebola outbreak.

The Blazers confirmed their participation in a letter dated September 21 and signed by club Chief Executive Officer Daniel Muttu Obol, who said the club is proud to represent Uganda again.

"We are honored to represent Uganda in this prestigious competition for the second consecutive year and remain fully committed to preparing and competing at the highest level," Obol said.

He believes hosting the qualifiers will also help highlight the progress of Ugandan basketball.

"Participation in the Road to BAL presents a significant opportunity for our club, our players, and Ugandan basketball to showcase the continued growth, talent and competitiveness of the game in Uganda," he added.

Obol said the club will work with the relevant basketball authorities to ensure the tournament is successfully organised.

"We look forward to working closely with FIBA Africa, the National Council of Sports, FUBA and all stakeholders to ensure successful participation and organization of the tournament," he said.

Namuwongo will face Urunani BBC of Burundi, Patriots BBC of South Sudan, COSPN BBC of Madagascar and Ushundzì BBC of Comoros.

The top two teams will advance to the Elite 16 tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, scheduled for November 24-29.

The tournament marks another step in Namuwongo's rise from a lower-division club to one of Uganda's leading basketball teams.

The club was formed in 2014 and, under coach Stephen Nyeko, worked its way through the lower divisions before earning promotion to the National Basketball League in 2019.

Their first full NBL campaign came in 2022 after the COVID-19 disruption. They topped the regular season but lost the final 4-3 to the City Oilers.

The Blazers continued to grow and eventually ended the Oilers' long domestic dominance by winning their first NBL title in 2025.

They successfully defended the title this year, beating the Oilers 81-74 in overtime in Game Seven of the 2026 final in Hoima.

That success has put Namuwongo back on the continental stage for a second consecutive year.

Their first Road to BAL campaign came in 2025, when they played in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

They lost 83-70 to hosts Dar City before responding with a 132-58 victory over Comoros' Djabal Club to reach the Elite 16.

The Blazers then faced a tougher challenge in Nairobi, losing to Nairobi City Thunder and Johannesburg Giants before exiting the competition at the Elite 16 stage.

That experience gives the team another reference point as it prepares for a second continental campaign.