Uganda Women’s Volleyball team confident of qualifying to next stage

Uganda Women’s National Volleyball Team head coach Protus Soita Barasa believes his side is ready to compete and qualify for the next stage of the CAVB Zone V African Nations Championship qualifiers, set to take place at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.

“Training has been going on well. We picked the final squad and believe it is good enough to compete,” Soita told Vision Sports.

The Uganda Volleyball Federation (UVF) will host the Zone V qualifiers for both men and women from Sunday to June 5 in Kampala.

The competition is expected to attract strong teams from Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Burundi, depending on final confirmation.

Soita said the team has spent the last three weeks training and building understanding among players from different clubs.

“We have been concentrating on blending players from different clubs, and now we have a team. We are perfecting all departments together,” he said.

“The morale is good, and we expect to qualify. The final squad is working well together. It was not easy to choose the final setting department, but the team is fine with it.”

Earlier this month, Soita named a provisional squad of 22 players before trimming it to the final 14-member team.

“What guided our selection is the present performance, the form of the players, and their roles at their clubs,” Soita explained.

“My expectation is that the team will qualify for the next stage. Apart from Kenya and Egypt, who have already qualified, I expect us to be the ones joining them.”

Seven players were dropped from the provisional squad: Oliver Acan (KCCA), Agnes Akanyo (KCCA), Sharon Amito (APR Rwanda), Renata Kamaharo (Sport-S), Norah Nakalembe (VVC), Veroline Aanyu (KCCA), and Summayyah Ndagire (KCB).

The final squad is dominated by locally based players, with 12 athletes featuring for Ugandan clubs and only two playing abroad in Rwanda. Foreign-based players Hadija Otin and Catherine Ainembabazi retained their places, while Sharon Amito missed out. Young setters Acelun Hadijah and Katreena Odermatt impressed the technical team and secured their first spots in the final team.

Soita is one of Uganda’s most experienced volleyball coaches, having coached since 2005. From 2005 to 2010, he led Brethren College’s girls’ team to six consecutive national championships. He later joined Ndejje University (2010–2012), building a dominant women’s team that won silver at the East Africa Inter-University Games. Between 2012 and 2021, he coached UCU women, winning university titles and reaching league semifinals. He also guided OBB Women to the national championship title and currently serves as Uganda men’s national team head coach.

Barasa will be assisted by Edward Bwengye, who is also head coach of KCCA Volleyball Club and the reigning Uganda Women’s Volleyball League champions. Bwengye guided KCCA to local success and led the club to the Round of 16 at the African Club Championship in Cairo. He also has experience with Uganda’s national beach volleyball teams and recently guided the women’s beach volleyball side to a bronze medal at the CAVB Continental Beach Cup and LA 2028 Olympic qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Uganda finished third behind Egypt and Kenya, keeping alive the country’s hopes of progressing to the next continental qualification stage.

Team trainer Obeke Nicholas completes the technical bench. Nicholas is a respected volleyball figure in Uganda and has previously worked with UPDF, Nkumba University, Kyambogo University, Nabisunsa Girls School, and St. Mary’s Kitende, helping develop several young players.

Lady Volleyball Cranes

Katreena Odermatt
Acelun Hadijah
Catherine Ainembabazi
Claire Najuuko
Hadijah Otin
Ketty Aluka
Joan Tushemeriwe
Maureen Mwamula
Scovia Alungat
Lydia Asimo
Lisa Nakito
Jemima Lamaro
Christine Asekenye
Shamira Kalanzi

Technical Team

Protus Soita Barasa– Head Coach
Edward Bwengye – Assistant Head Coach
Nicholas Oboke – Trainer