By Michael Ainomugisha
The 2025 National Basketball League (NBL) season is set to start off on March 21, with Uganda Christian University (UCU) playing a crucial role as one of the host venues.
Both the UCU Canons and UCU Lady Canons are gearing up for an exciting season after a competitive season in 2024.
The UCU Lady Canons, last season’s runners-up, will open their campaign on Sunday, March 23, against Miracle Ravens at Lugogo Indoor Stadium. Their first home game at UCU-Mukono will be on Saturday, April 5, against Nabisunsa.
They will also play another crucial home fixture against KIU Rangers on Friday, March 28, at Lugogo Indoor Stadium, a game expected to be a strong test early in the season.
Meanwhile, the UCU Canons will begin their season against Kampala Rockets on Wednesday, March 26, at Lugogo Indoor Stadium. Their first home game will come on Saturday, April 5, at UCU-Mukono, where they will face Rezlife Saints.
UCU-Mukono will serve as one of the key venues for the NBL, providing the Canons and Lady Canons a home-court advantage in several critical matchups. Notable fixtures at UCU include:
April 5: UCU Canons vs. Rezlife Saints
April 5: UCU Lady Canons vs. Nabisunsa
April 19: UCU Canons vs. Sommet BC
April 26: UCU Canons vs. JKL Dolphins
With a revamped squad and strong home support, both UCU teams will be aiming to make a statement early in the season.
New League Management Structure.
The upcoming season will also see a new collaborative approach to league management, as FUBA and team managers, including UCU’s basketball management, will co-manage league operations. This initiative aims to improve transparency, financial accountability, and operational efficiency within the NBL.
NBL secretary general Samuel Lukaire confirmed that discussions on the pilot program have been ongoing for some time.
“The Federation will handle technical operations such as player registration, game official allocations, and venue management, while teams will focus on resource mobilization, particularly sponsorships,” Lukaire earlier stated.
Additionally, FUBA has introduced a restructured financial system, including a Stanbic Bank Flexi Pay system for gate collections, ensuring accountability. The federation has also mandated that teams clear outstanding debts and pay at least 50% of their 2025 registration fees to participate in the upcoming season.
