Silverbacks must build long-term programme to compete with Africa's best – Juruni

Uganda's men's basketball national team, the Silverbacks, must shift focus from short-term preparation to building a strong and stable long-term programme if they are to compete with Africa's best.

Uganda ended the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers without a win, finishing bottom of Group D and failing to progress beyond the qualifying windows.

In the last two qualifying cycles, the Silverbacks have managed only two wins in 22 matches, showing a growing gap between Uganda and Africa's leading basketball nations.

The team lost all six matches in the current campaign, including defeats to Angola, Mali and Egypt, which confirmed their elimination from the competition.

Despite the poor results, head coach Mandy Juruni said the team showed commitment but failed to maintain consistency across games.

"I would say I am really proud of the guys. We had two tough games and we were out of the competition. They did not play for Egypt for the win only, but for the badge," Juruni said.

He added that Uganda must reflect and improve. "It has been up and down, not just this campaign but over the years. It is really upon us to reflect and see how we do better. I really believe we can play with anybody on the continent. We need consistency."

Juruni also admitted defensive mistakes cost Uganda heavily, especially against Mali. "We made a lot of mistakes in defence. I know we can compete better than we did today. These teams are very good. If we do not compete with the same energy, we will not give ourselves a chance," he said.

Uganda's final match against Egypt ended in a 77-70 overtime defeat after a much-improved performance where they led for long periods before collapsing in extra time.

Captain Robinson Opong said the team is still learning and improving. "The main thing was coming to fight and compete at a higher level. I am impressed. Ugandan basketball is growing and I am waiting to see where we go in the future," Opong said. He added that experience will be key for future improvement. "We are learning, we are getting experience. With time, we will get there."

The results show a deeper challenge for Uganda basketball, which continues to struggle with consistency, preparation and depth at international level. Uganda has talent, but the Silverbacks lack a stable system. The team often relies on short training camps before major competitions, leaving little time to build chemistry or defensive structure. There is also limited exposure to high-level competition, with few international friendlies compared to Africa's top teams.

FUBA must invest more in youth development, strengthen the domestic league, and ensure consistent player selection to build long-term understanding within the team. Without a structured programme running throughout the year, Uganda risks repeating the same cycle of early exits and missed opportunities.