The much-anticipated touchline debut of Goran Lojo as head coach of Uganda’s men’s national basketball team has been temporarily shelved.
The newly appointed Silverbacks tactician was expected to link up with the team in Alexandria, Egypt, ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
However, a sudden medical emergency has ruled out his travel, forcing a delay to his first official engagement with the squad.
Lojo, who recently took over the reins of the Silverbacks, had not yet met the majority of his players in person.
While he previously guided Uganda’s women’s national team, the Uganda Gazelles, his transition to the men’s setup was set to mark the beginning of a fresh chapter for the program.
The Silverbacks will now begin their World Cup qualifying campaign without their designated head coach on the sidelines.
NBS Sports understands that the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) maintained constant communication with Lojo throughout the situation.
In a proactive response, the federation agreed that he should prioritize his health and immediately arranged for Ben Komakech to travel and reinforce the technical bench.
With Lojo sidelined, first assistant Mandy Juruni steps up to steer the team through the opening window.
He will be supported by Secerovic Armin, Andrew Tendo, and Komakech, forming a technical unit tasked with maintaining tactical cohesion and competitive edge in high-stakes matchups.
Uganda faces a demanding group that includes hosts Egypt, as well as Mali and Angola.
The Silverbacks tip off their campaign against Angola on Thursday.
For nearly eight years, George Galanopoulos oversaw the Silverbacks’ major international assignments.
Earlier this year, the mantle officially passed to Lojo, ushering in expectations of evolution and renewed ambition.
Though his courtside debut is postponed, Lojo’s influence on the program is only delayed, not denied.
For now, the Silverbacks must rally together, lean on internal leadership, and navigate the qualifiers with resilience.
