Uganda’s national netball team, the She Cranes, have suffered a setback in the latest World Netball Rankings, slipping from sixth to seventh.
The drop comes after a disappointing run at the 2025 Vitality Netball Series in the United Kingdom, where Uganda struggled against top opposition.
Facing England, South Africa, and Malawi in the group stage, the She Cranes endured a difficult campaign, losing all three of their opening matches.
However, they managed to salvage some pride with a victory over Malawi in the placement matches, securing a third-place finish in the tournament.
Despite that late resurgence, the rankings update saw Wales move ahead of Uganda into sixth place, benefiting from a strong rating of 124 points; just two more than the She Cranes.
The rankings shift is a tough pill to swallow for Uganda, especially considering their strong finish in continental competition last year.
In December 2024, the She Cranes reached the final of the Netball Africa Cup in Namibia, finishing as runners-up after falling to South Africa’s SPAR Proteas.
However, the global ranking system takes into account performances over multiple years, and Uganda’s struggles at the Vitality Series ultimately weighed against them.
At the top of the global standings, Australia continues to dominate world netball, holding onto first place. New Zealand remains in second but has managed to close the gap on their arch-rivals from 12 to nine points.
Jamaica sits comfortably in third, extending their lead over fourth-placed England, while South Africa rounds out the top five.
Further down the rankings, Zambia has made notable progress, climbing two spots to 15th. Botswana has enjoyed an even bigger leap, rising four places to break into the top 20.
Other teams making strides include Kenya, the Philippines, and St Kitts and Nevis, each moving up three places.
Uganda will now look ahead to future competitions, hoping to regain lost ground and climb back into the world’s top six.
With the Netball World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, the She Cranes have a chance to make a statement and reaffirm their place among the sport’s elite.
