The Great Lakes Men’s T20 tournament gets underway at Lugogo Cricket Oval on Friday, bringing together some of Uganda’s best cricketers in a competition designed to strengthen the country’s talent pipeline.
The tournament opens with Victoria Strikers taking on Bunyonyi Warriors in the morning fixture before Kyoga Avengers face Mburo Blasters later in the day. The event follows the successful conclusion of the women’s edition and will feature a mix of senior national team players, Uganda A, Uganda Emerging and Uganda Under-19 cricketers.
Four teams, Victoria Strikers, Kyoga Avengers, Bunyonyi Warriors and Mburo Blasters, will compete in a triple round-robin format, with each side facing the others three times. The team that finishes top of the standings at the end of the competition will be crowned champions.
The tournament draws inspiration from some of the Great Lakes region’s iconic water bodies, reflecting the area’s geographical and cultural heritage while providing a platform for elite cricket competition.
Cricket Uganda Head of High Performance and Pathways Richard Gideon Okia said the tournament would play a key role in assessing players after months of preparation across different national programmes.
“This tournament brings together all the elite players in the country. After different training programmes for our teams, it is crucial that we test their skills in a competitive environment.
“Our hope is that the experienced Cricket Cranes players can help the Emerging and Under-19 players grow in the game, preparing them for upcoming assignments and the modern demands of cricket,” Okia said.
Victoria Strikers will be captained by Kenneth Waiswa and feature national team players such as Simon Ssesazi and Robert Ajuna. Bunyonyi Warriors will be led by Fred Acelam, while Kyoga Avengers captain Juma Miyaji and Mburo Blasters skipper Riazat Ali will also be looking to guide their teams to the title.
Cricket Uganda believes the tournament will offer an important opportunity for talent identification and player development, while exposing younger cricketers to a high-level competitive environment alongside some of the country’s most experienced players.
Fans unable to attend matches at Lugogo will still be able to follow the action, with all fixtures set to be livestreamed throughout the tournament.
The competition runs until June 20, with two matches scheduled each day as the four teams battle for top spot in the standings and the inaugural Great Lakes Men’s T20 crown.
