Ucanda outlines Uganda's netball roadmap ahead of Africa Cup

Netball Uganda president Jocelyn Ucanda says the lessons and experience gained from the Commonwealth Games have provided the federation with a clearer picture of what needs to be improved ahead of the continental championship.

One of the federation’s major priorities is to secure contracts for national team players, ideally covering close to three years, if funding can be secured.

“We can do well if players have financial security and the team is funded well. When you look at other teams we were competing with, they take netball professionally because they are paid a salary. However, our players have to first work to earn a salary and then think of netball last,” Ucanda said.

She believes financial security would allow players to dedicate more time and attention to the sport, putting Uganda on a more competitive footing with nations where netball is already professionally structured.

Ucanda also revealed that Netball Uganda will intensify scouting for taller players after identifying height as one of the areas that disadvantaged the She Cranes at the Commonwealth Games.

“We have tall and talented players. After scouting them, we need to accommodate them, and that calls for funds. We need to have sponsors so that we can maintain these camps,” she said.

The federation also wants to address a long-standing defensive weakness that Ucanda says begins at school level. She argues that coaches often automatically assign taller players to shooting positions, leaving the defence with shorter players.

According to Ucanda, this approach makes it difficult for Uganda to match teams at the international level, where height can be a major advantage.

“There are players we are looking forward to recruiting into our defence before the Africa Netball Cup,” she said.

The federation will also expect coaches to put into practice the lessons they picked up from the Commonwealth Games, particularly in strengthening the team’s defensive organisation and overall competitiveness.

Ucanda, however, says improvement will not depend entirely on what the federation provides. She has urged players to take greater responsibility for their own development by investing in their fitness and wellbeing.

“Players need to invest in themselves: go to the gym, do road work, mind their feeding, and stay hydrated. What we give them may not be enough, hence the need to invest time in themselves,” Ucanda said.

The team is expected to be summoned for camp soon after the Inter-Forces Games, as some national team players are involved in the competition, and the federation has had to wait for the games to conclude.

Uganda will enter the Africa Netball Cup with two teams: the She Cranes in the women’s competition and The Rock representing the country in the men’s competition.

The renewed preparations come after the She Cranes finished sixth at the Commonwealth Games, where they were eliminated by South Africa’s Spar Proteas, losing 62–54.