The Victoria Pearls touched down safely in Kigali on Sunday morning, June 1, ahead of the 11th edition of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament, where they will begin their title defence on Tuesday.
Uganda’s national women’s cricket team will use the tournament as a key preparatory platform for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers, with valuable ranking points also on the line. The event runs from June 3 to 14 at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.
The Pearls, who won the tournament in 2024 to claim their third Kwibuka title, open their campaign against Cameroon on June 4.
Head coach Deus Muhumuza previously expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, citing improvements in batting aggression, bowling discipline, and fielding sharpness following six weeks of intensive training.
Team captain Janet Mbabazi has also spoken of the team’s comfort in Kigali, calling Rwanda a “second home” as they gear up for the back-to-back fixtures in the round-robin format.
The squad includes a mix of seasoned campaigners such as Mbabazi, Ritah Musamali, and Kevin Awino, alongside debutants Sarah Tino, Kevin Amuge, and Teddy Oyella. Proscovia Alako returns to the team after a period out, while four players were excused to focus on academic commitments.
This year’s edition features nine teams, including hosts Rwanda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe Emerging, Tanzania, Brazil, Malawi, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon.
The top four teams after the round-robin phase will progress to the semifinals scheduled for June 13, with the final set for June 14.
First held in 2014, the Kwibuka Tournament is held annually to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi and foster unity and peace through sport.
