Hundreds of mourners gathered on Saturday May 16 at Kamokya Catholic Church to bid farewell to Maxine Modesta Anyango, the 18‑year‑old basketball prodigy whose life was tragically cut short.
Born on 14 December 2007, Anyango was a student at St. Noa Girls School and widely regarded as one of Uganda’s brightest basketball prospects.
She reportedly sustained a knee injury during the National Secondary Schools Games at Seroma Christian High School in Mukono, complications from which led to her untimely death.
Coach Richard, who had adopted and mentored her, broke down while recalling their last exchange before surgery: “When I was leaving the gate, she told me, send my greetings to my siblings. I didn’t know she was saying bye. I feel so bad.”
Tributes poured in from coaches, teammates, and the Uganda Basketball Federation, hailing Anyango as a gifted athlete destined for international greatness.
Her impact was already evident when she represented Uganda at the 2024 FIBA Africa Zone Five Under‑18 Qualifiers, where she was named Most Valuable Player.
