Gazelles head coach Nicholas Natuhereza has underscored the importance of continuity and targeted improvement as Uganda’s national women’s basketball team departs for a final training camp in Egypt ahead of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.
Speaking to NBS Sport during Thursday’s morning’s open session at Lugogo, Natuhereza explained that his 13-player squad was designed to build upon the foundation laid during February’s Zone V qualifiers in Cairo.
“We didn’t want to change things too much,” he said. “We wanted as many players from the qualifiers as possible but also brought in a few new faces to address issues we noticed, like offensive rebounding and backcourt communication.”
Among the additions is Evelyn Nakiyingi, a skilled point guard who last featured for the Gazelles at the 2023 Afrobasket in Kigali.
Natuhereza believes her experience will be instrumental in solidifying the team’s ball-handling and defensive discipline.
Assistant captain Hope Akello echoed her coach’s sentiments, saying that she believes Nakiyingi’s return will add both quality and depth to the squad.
“I’m happy she’s back. She’s young and very talented, and I think she’ll bring a lot with her IQ and steals.”
Coach Nick Natuhereza also highlighted the importance of the Egypt camp, where the team will face top-tier opposition before relocating to Alexandria.
“It’s very important to step away from distractions and have three weeks to focus entirely on preparation,” Natuhereza said.
“We’ll use this time to build our identity, iron out mistakes, and strengthen team chemistry.”
The Gazelles will test their mettle against Egypt, Rwanda, and Cameroon from July 12 to 15 before continuing tactical drills in Alexandria, ahead of their July 24 departure for Abidjan.
