The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) has officially confirmed that the newly constructed Hoima City Stadium will host the FIBA AfroBasket U18 Zone V Qualifiers from June 14 to 20, 2026.
In an announcement made on Monday afternoon, the federation confirmed on the FUBA Youth & Mini Basketball social media handle that Uganda has been awarded the rights to host the contintental competition at the stadium.
The week-long competition is expected to draw 11 nations, featuring both boys’ and girls’ teams from across the Zone V region.
The confirmation comes after earlier reports by NBS Sport journalist Brian Tuka, who first broke the story earlier this month, indicating that Hoima had emerged as the frontrunner to host the prestigious youth event.
The tournament will be staged at the Hoima City Arena, part of the expansive Hoima City Stadium complex located in Mparo Division.
Officially opened on December 24, 2025, the 20,000-seater multi-sport facility boasts a modern indoor arena with a 2,000-seat capacity tailored for basketball, alongside outdoor courts and state-of-the-art media and hospitality amenities.
Uganda last hosted the qualifiers in 2024 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala, where the national junior teams delivered outstanding performances.
The boys’ side, the Junior Silverbacks, edged Rwanda 69-66 in a thrilling final, while the Junior Gazelles cruised to an 82-52 victory over the same opponents to secure qualification.
The Zone V Qualifiers traditionally bring together teams from East and Central Africa, including Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Sudan.
The tournament serves as a gateway to the continental championship, with top teams earning spots at the biennial FIBA U18 AfroBasket finals.
Hosting the 2026 edition in Hoima underscores Uganda’s growing reputation for organising international sporting events and aligns with broader infrastructure investments aimed at positioning the country for global competitions.
