Ugandan sport in 2025 was not merely about results on scorelines or medals on podiums; it was about resistance, arrival, and affirmation.
From boardroom battles and fan-led revolts to historic World Cup debuts and continental recognition, the year unfolded like a gripping sports epic.
Football remained the beating heart, but it was flanked by landmark moments in basketball, rugby, netball and athletics that collectively elevated Uganda’s global sporting stature.
Here are the Top 10 Ugandan sporting stories of 2025.
The League That Refused to Bend: UPL Reforms, Fan Power and Vipers’ Silent Revolt
The most defining football story of the year unfolded not on the pitch, but in the corridors of power. FUFA’s attempt to unilaterally impose a new Uganda Premier League format sparked unprecedented resistance. Marketed as “reforms,” the changes were met with stiff opposition, led quietly but firmly by Vipers SC and their influential president, Dr. Lawrence Mulindwa.
What followed was a rare alliance between a football institution and its supporters. Fans expressed their displeasure the only way they knew how, by staying away. Empty terraces sent a louder message than press statements ever could.
The boycott bit hard, exposing the fragility of reforms imposed without stakeholder buy-in. Eventually, FUFA was forced into retreat, shelving key elements of the proposed format.
It was a watershed moment that reaffirmed one truth: in Ugandan football, fans still matter, and power can still be challenged.
Cubs Roar on the World Stage: Uganda’s Historic U17 World Cup Breakthrough
Uganda finally arrived at football’s most sacred altar. The Uganda U17 national team, the Cubs, became the first Ugandan side at any level, men or women, to grace a FIFA World Cup. And they did not merely make up the numbers. They made it out of the group stages all the way to the Round of 16.
Their stunning 2–1 victory over France sent shockwaves across the tournament and announced Uganda as a serious nursery of talent.
At the heart of it all was James Bogere, whose composure, intelligence and ruthless finishing saw him emerge as one of the competition’s breakout stars. Alongside him, Hamza Ssengooba embodied the new Ugandan footballer, technically sound, fearless and tactically aware.
The reward was swift and deserved. Both Bogere and Ssengooba earned maiden professional contracts with Danish outfit Aarhus, a tangible pathway from local pitches to European professionalism. The Cubs didn’t just make history; they redefined Uganda’s football ceiling.
CHAN at Home: Cranes Soar, Fans Deliver, History Made
Co-hosting the African Nations Championship (CHAN) alongside Kenya and Tanzania, Uganda seized its moment. The Cranes made it out of the group stages for the first time in the competition’s history, a long-awaited breakthrough that ignited national pride.
Back-to-back victories, 2-0 over Niger and a commanding 3-0 demolition of Guinea, showcased a team growing in belief and cohesion. Though eventual elimination came at the hands of Senegal, the campaign was widely hailed as progress.
Off the pitch, Ugandan fans earned continental acclaim for their colour, passion and unwavering support. In recognition of the achievement, the government rewarded the players with UGX 2.4 billion in bonuses, a rare but significant affirmation of local football excellence.
Hoima City Stadium: A Monument Rises in Record Time
Infrastructure finally matched ambition. The completion of Hoima City Stadium, built in record time after construction began only last year, stood as a bold statement of intent ahead of major continental tournaments.
Set for commissioning on December 24th by President Yoweri Museveni, the ultra-modern facility has already been described as one of the finest sporting arenas in the region. More than concrete and steel, the multi-purpose Hoima City Stadium symbolizes Uganda’s readiness to host, compete and belong at the highest level.
End of a Dynasty: Namuwongo Blazers Shock the Basketball Order
In one of the most seismic upsets in Ugandan sport, Namuwongo Blazers dethroned record champions City Oilers to claim their maiden National Basketball League title.
The Oilers’ decade-long dominance, ten consecutive championships, came crashing down as the Blazers played with hunger, belief and tactical clarity, despite falling in the first two games of the seven-game series. It was not just a victory; it was a changing of the guard, proof that dynasties, no matter how entrenched, are mortal.
Rugby Africa Cup: Hosting with Class, Hurting with Results
Uganda earned glowing reviews as hosts of the Rugby Africa Cup, delivering an impeccably organized tournament that won plaudits across the continent.
On the field, however, the story was bittersweet. Zimbabwe lifted the trophy and booked a historic ticket to the Rugby World Cup, their first since 1991. Uganda, agonizingly, managed just one win and finished 7th out of eight, a sobering reminder of the gap still to be bridged between ambition and execution.
Nabadda’s Golden Whistle: Africa’s Best, Uganda’s Pride
Shamirah Nabadda soared to continental prominence after being crowned CAF’s Best Female Referee. Her meteoric rise culminated in appointment as the only Ugandan referee at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.
In a male-dominated profession, Nabadda’s excellence, authority and consistency shattered ceilings and carried the Ugandan flag with dignity. Her success was not symbolic, it was earned.
Venoms Strike Gold: Vipers Complete a Second Domestic Double
On the pitch, Vipers SC exerted dominion. The Kitende giants clinched their second domestic double, securing the 2024/25 Uganda Premier League title with 69 points, narrowly edging NEC FC.
Playmaker Allan Okello was irresistible, finishing as league top scorer with 19 goals, blending artistry with end product. The season was capped with a 2-0 Stanbic Uganda Cup final victory over KCCA FC, courtesy of goals from Yunus Sentamu and Livingstone Mulondo.
She Cranes Conquer Europe: Celtic Cup Triumph and World Cup Qualification
Uganda’s She Cranes delivered a flawless campaign at the Celtic Cup in Scotland, winning all five matches and emphatically beating Wales 70-48 in the final game.
Star shooter Shadiah Nassanga was named tournament MVP as Uganda climbed to 6th in the World Netball Rankings, securing qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup. Precision, power and poise defined their dominance.
Don Rukare Rewrites History: Uganda at the Helm of Commonwealth Sport
Away from the pitch, Dr. Donald Rukare scaled unprecedented heights, elected President of Commonwealth Sport at the General Assembly in Glasgow.
A human rights lawyer and sitting president of the Uganda Olympic Committee, Rukare became the first African to lead the body, marking a historic shift in global sports governance and placing Uganda at the heart of international decision-making.
Special Mentions
Denis Onyango’s Return: The legendary goalkeeper came out of international retirement to rejoin the Uganda Cranes, earning a place in the squad for the 2025 AFCON, a story of legacy, leadership and unfinished business.
Pirates’ Rugby Double: Pirates dominated the domestic rugby scene, clinching both the league championship and Uganda Cup, edging arch-rivals Heathens in the latter.
Jacob Kiplimo’s Chicago Masterclass: Long-distance ace Jacob Kiplimo stunned the world by winning the 2025 Chicago Marathon in 2:02:23, his first major marathon title, the seventh-fastest time in history, and the fastest ever by a Ugandan..
