Schools and youth basketball coaches have expressed disappointment after Uganda lost the rights to host the 2026 FIBA U18 AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers, with the tournament relocated to Egypt due to concerns linked to the Ebola outbreak.
For many in the grassroots system, the decision has taken away what they describe as a rare chance for young athletes to experience elite regional basketball at home. Coaches say hosting the event would have allowed school players to watch top youth talent from across Africa up close, offering exposure that is often out of reach due to travel costs and logistics.
Schools in Uganda have long played a central role in developing sporting talent through structured physical education programmes and organised competitions. Increasingly, they have become key development hubs for disciplines such as basketball, football, swimming and athletics, feeding into national pathways.
Moses Mukisa, a basketball coach at Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools in Kira, said the tournament would have provided a major boost for inspiration and learning among young players. He noted that watching high level youth competition locally often helps raise standards and ambition among school athletes.
The disappointment was echoed during the ongoing Kampala Junior Schools League, where Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools are competing across basketball, football and other sports. Coaches used the platform to stress the importance of continuing development work despite the setback.
In football, coaches also pointed to the steady growth of women’s football since the introduction of a structured league system in 2015, saying it has pushed more primary schools to identify and nurture young girls with talent.
Jackson Ntale, a coach at Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools, encouraged young athletes to stay focused on their sporting goals, with many pupils still dreaming of representing Uganda on the international stage.
Despite the setback, coaches remain confident that talent development will continue through school competitions and grassroots programmes. They stressed that strong support systems involving parents, schools and mentors remain key in shaping the next generation of athletes, with junior leagues continuing to provide the foundation for future stars.
