By Michael Ainomugisha
If someone had told Martina Anyango in 2023, when she joined Uganda Christian University (UCU), that she would become the National Basketball League (NBL) Playoffs Most Valuable Player and earn a scholarship to play basketball in the United States, she would probably have struggled to believe them.
At the time, she was still learning the game. Three years later, the former UCU Lady Canons centre is at Texas Tech University, preparing to represent the Lady Raiders in the Big 12 Conference of America’s NCAA Division I basketball.
Born in Soroti District, eastern Uganda, Anyango grew up with little interest in sport. Her first attempt at competitive games came at Hilton High School, where she tried volleyball because basketball was only available to boys. She eventually abandoned volleyball after struggling to develop her skills.
Her interest in basketball began during her Senior Four vacation in 2020, when she started visiting the Lions Club court in Soroti to watch her friends play.
“The first time I touched an orange ball was when a certain team was playing and the ball rolled towards me,” Anyango recalled during an earlier interview conducted before the 2026 NBL playoffs.
“Then I caught the ball. I was like, “Wow, just there, and then I fell in love with that sport.”
Although she could not play, she returned to the court regularly, watching others and imitating their movements. Her interest caught the attention of a man named Simon, who encouraged her to attend morning training sessions to learn the basics.
However, pursuing basketball was not easy. Her family wanted her to concentrate on education, and she received little encouragement to continue playing.
“Everyone at home was against me being in sports. All of them were like, I should concentrate on my books. I’m wasting time on sports,” she recalled.
After completing O-Level, Anyango joined St Mary’s College Lugazi for her A-Level studies, hoping to improve her basketball skills. However, the school’s basketball programme was struggling, and she began questioning whether she had a future in the sport.
Her fortunes changed during a friendly match against Mount St Mary’s College Namagunga. Emmanuel Kiguyi, who coached at UCU, noticed her potential and approached her after the game.
He introduced her to the possibility of joining the Lady Canons through a sports scholarship. Although she had initially planned to attend Makerere University, the opportunity changed her plans as this would ease the financial burden of university education on her family.
In 2023, Anyango joined UCU, where she faced the challenge of competing alongside experienced players in a team that had won the national championship the previous year.
She barely understood the different playing positions when she arrived. Kiguyi and head coach Nicholas Natuhereza identified her as a centre, but even rebounding, which later became one of her greatest strengths, was unfamiliar.
“When I stepped onto court for my first game, I didn’t know that you were supposed to rebound the ball,” she admitted.
Kiguyi worked with her on positioning and rebounding techniques, while experienced teammates, including Bridget Aber and Shakira Nanvubya, encouraged her to improve.
Her early league appearances were difficult. She often felt intimidated by the level of competition and feared disappointing her teammates.
“I had a lot of anxiety, and sometimes I would freeze on court. I would not do anything,” she said.
Nevertheless, she continued training, gradually developing into one of the Lady Canons’ most dependable players. Her progress earned her national team opportunities and international exposure, including a bronze medal at the 2025 FISU University World Cup 3×3 Basketball in Brasília, Brazil.
In 2026, her efforts culminated in a breakthrough season. She helped UCU win their ninth NBL women’s championship after defeating JT Lady Jaguars 4–1 in the finals, contributing 70 points and 73 rebounds across five games.
Her performances earned her the Playoffs MVP award, alongside Best Centre, Top Rebounder, and Best Five honours.
Speaking in a recent phone interview from Texas Tech, Anyango described the championship as a defining moment in her career.
“This campaign was special to me because it showed how much hard work, dedication and sacrifice can pay off,” she said.
“What made it even more special was being able to contribute to my team’s success. Basketball is a team sport, so I could not have done it without my teammates and coaches who believed in me so much.”
The championship was followed by another milestone when Texas Tech announced her signing for the 2026–27 season.
Anyango explained that the opportunity resulted from her performances and connections developed through basketball, particularly the support of Natuhereza, whom she credited with helping facilitate the move.
“There were also other opportunities that came along the way. But it was also Coach Nick because he was the one actually behind my success at Texas Tech,” she said.
The transition, however, involved more than securing a scholarship.
“The process involving academic requirements and dealing with documentation and visa arrangements was so crazy,” she recalls, adding, “There were moments when I had to trust the process even when I didn’t know exactly how everything would work out.”
Now in Lubbock, Texas, Anyango faces another adjustment as she prepares to compete in a faster and more demanding basketball environment.
She hopes to improve her fitness, develop her skills, and establish herself within the Lady Raiders’ system while continuing her education.
“I understand American college basketball is highly competitive, and I also want to adapt to the team, understand the level of competition and contribute in any way I can,” she says.
For Anyango, the scholarship represents more than an opportunity to play abroad. It brings her closer to her ambition of becoming a professional basketball player and potentially competing in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
It also represents years of sacrifice by her family, coaches, and those who supported her when basketball seemed an uncertain path.
She says, “I really hope my journey inspires young Ugandan basketball players to believe in themselves, take their education seriously and remain committed to their goals because coming from Uganda doesn’t mean your dreams have to be limited.”
