Uganda wheelchair basketball teams begin camp ahead of Africa championships

The Uganda Wheelchair Basketball Federation (UWBF) is set to launch a residential training camp for two national teams ahead of the 2026 IWBF Africa Senior Men and Women Championships, scheduled for March 22 to April 4, 2026 in Luanda, Angola.

The camp will begin on February 5 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena, as Uganda intensifies preparations for the premier continental championship.

The tournament doubles as a qualifier for the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships in Ottawa, Canada, and also serves as a pathway to the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games through the 3x3 format.

UWBF president Suleiman Mayanja, who also heads the Eastern Africa region, confirmed that a provisional squad of 23 players will enter camp in Kampala.

“We are taking two men’s teams to compete in both the 3x3 and 5x5 events. Seven players have been summoned for the 3x3 side and 16 for the 5x5 team. The final squads will consist of five players for 3x3 and 12 for 5x5,” Mayanja explained.

He added that at least eight players will be drawn from northern Uganda, as the federation seeks regional balance and depth of talent.

Across Africa, several nations are assembling teams for the championship, which was last won by Morocco in 2022.

However, Morocco failed to qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games after losing in the final qualifier held in Antibes, France, in April 2024. At least 18 countries, including Morocco and Senegal, are expected to feature in this year’s event.

UWBF has appointed continental-level coach Andrew Kihumba to lead the national teams, assisted by Joseph Jawakonga.

Uganda last competed in the continental championships on the road to Paris in January 2022, hosted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

More recently, the wheelchair basketball team thrilled fans during the finals of the KCCA-KT Rach Women’s Basketball Tournament at Lugogo Indoor Arena, where Makerere emerged champions.