Volleyball League returns: KCCA Ladies, VVC renew rivalry in season opener

KCCA Ladies coach Edward Bwenje has vowed to defend the National Volleyball League title as the champions prepare to open their 2026/27 campaign against Vision Volleyball Camp (VVC) on Friday at MTN Arena, Nsambya.

The two sides met in last season’s final. KCCA beat VVC 3-0 in the decisive Game Three to win the best-of-three series 2-1 and complete a domestic double alongside their National Club Championship title.

“Our target is to defend the ladies’ trophy, and the team is prepared for the new season. We have mainly focused on working together because three players were away for about two weeks on national beach volleyball duty,” Bwenje said.

He added that the team had worked on serving, net defence and coordination ahead of the opener.

“We are in good shape and ready for the launch. Our focus is to serve stronger, defend well at the net and play as a team. We want to secure the three points and display good volleyball.”

Bwenje said the team’s improvement during the second-round last season had strengthened their belief ahead of the title defence.

“Last season was one of its kind. We had a shaky first round that made us look like a struggling team, but the results turned around in the second round. That built a lot of confidence in the team,” he added.

KCCA will also play UCU on Sunday at 2pm at Court Two, Nsambya, as the opening weekend continues. Other women’s Serie A fixtures on Saturday include Nkumba against UPDF, Nemo Stars against Seroma, and KCB-Nkumba against Sport-S, all at MTN Arena. VVC will face Sport-S B on Sunday at Court Two.

The women’s Serie A has 10 teams: KCB-Nkumba, Sport-S, KCCA, UCU, VVC, Seroma, Sport-S B, Nkumba, Nemo Stars and UPDF.

In the men’s Serie A launch match on Friday, KCCA will face Nemo Stars at MTN Arena. KCCA won two of their three meetings last season, with Nemo Stars taking the other match. Saturday’s men’s fixtures include Tigers against Bukedea, Prison against KAVC and Elyon against Sport-S.

The men’s Serie A features 10 teams: Elyon, Bukedea, Sport-S, Nemo Stars, KCCA, Prison, Tigers, KAVC, UCU and Police. Serie B men’s has 11 teams, while Women’s Serie B1 has 16.

The new season follows a busy transfer period, with the Uganda Volleyball Federation approving 65 player transfers. KCCA signed seven players, including Marxenso Muhumuza, Hassan Tendo, John Ogire, Egide Mwizerwa and George Kelly for the men’s team, and Hadijah Otin and Asha Diana Ulea for the women’s side.

Sky and Nemo Stars each made six signings, while KAVC signed eight. UCU added four players, and St Charles Ntinda signed four. Other clubs also strengthened their squads ahead of the new campaign.

The federation proposed a Sh493m budget for the 2026/27 season to support grassroots development and the competition structure. New transfer rules also require players to obtain valid federation transfer certificates before featuring in sanctioned competitions, following eligibility disputes that disrupted last season’s playoffs and men’s finals.

Nemostars will begin the season without receiver-attacker Federicko Mujinya, who is serving a one-season suspension for a transfer breach until May 14, 2027.

Uganda National Volleyball League 2026/27

Friday (MTN Arena)

Women

VVC v KCCA 6pm

Men

KCCA v Nemo 8pm

Saturday

Women

Nemo v Seroma 1pm

Nkumba v UPDF 3pm

 KCB-Nkumba v Sport-S 6pm

Men

Tigers v Bukedea 1

 Prison vs KAVC 3pm

 Elyon v Sport-S 8pm

Sunday

Women

VVC v Sport-S B 11am

UCU v KCCA 2pm

Men

Bukedea v UCU 11am

Police v Prison 4pm