Uganda has launched the first ever African U15 Women’s Baseball Friendly Championship, marking a historic milestone for the sport on the continent and placing gender equality at the centre of its development agenda.
The tournament officially opened on January 7, 2026 at the Uganda Japan National Baseball Stadium in Gayaza, with the Uganda Baseball and Softball Association reaffirming its commitment to expanding opportunities for young girls in baseball.
UBSA president Ssempa John Bosco said the championship reflects a deliberate push to grow women’s baseball from the grassroots while ensuring equal access to competitive sport.
“This tournament has marked a major step forward for baseball development in Uganda which aligns with our target this year, young girls deserve the same opportunities as their male counterparts to pursue sport at competitive and professional levels”, Ssempa said during the opening ceremony.
Sports stakeholders present at the launch pledged increased investment in grassroots baseball development across the country. These commitments include improving baseball playgrounds, upgrading training facilities, and expanding talent identification programmes aimed at nurturing young players from an early age.
The championship has also attracted praise from regional partners. Head of Women in Baseball at the South Africa Baseball Union, Hayley Scott Maree, described the tournament as a turning point for women’s baseball in Africa. She said the initiative has the potential to inspire more girls and women across the continent to take up the sport and compete at international level.
The four day series got underway with hosts Uganda facing South Africa, setting the tone for a tournament that goes beyond competition and serves as a symbol of progress, inclusion, and opportunity for young female athletes in African baseball.
