Ugandan basketball has been plunged into mourning following the death of JKL Dolphins guard Jonathan Oketch, who succumbed to injuries sustained in a road accident earlier this month.
Oketch, fondly known as ‘Timaya’ among basketball fans and players, passed away on Monday night at about 10:30 pm, according to confirmation from basketball coach Edwin Beinomugisha.
“Today June 15th at around 10:30 pm Mr. Jonathan Oketch went to be with the Lord. May His Soul rest in peace,” Beinomugisha wrote in a statement shared shortly before midnight.
The news triggered an outpouring of grief from across the basketball community, with teammates, friends, officials, and fans paying tribute to a player remembered for his passion, commitment, and character both on and off the court.
A close friend described the difficult moments leading up to his passing, saying: “We prayed, we hoped, and we tried, we really tried. Jonah you should have been around to see the love people had shown you.”
His club, JKL Dolphins, also mourned the loss of one of its key players.
“Rest peacefully brother, you fought the good fight,” the club posted.
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) joined the basketball fraternity in expressing condolences to Oketch’s family and friends, describing his death as a painful loss to the sport.
“Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” FUBA’s National Basketball League platform stated.
Oketch’s final appearance for JKL Dolphins came on June 3, when he featured in their commanding 114-75 victory over Kampala Rockets at Nakivubo. He missed the team’s next fixture, a 90-61 loss to Rezlife Saints on June 10, as he remained in critical condition.
The guard had been an important part of JKL Dolphins’ campaign this season, making 17 appearances in the National Basketball League and averaging 4.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Before joining JKL Dolphins, Oketch represented Ndejje Angels and later played for Sommet during the previous season, building a reputation as a dependable guard within Uganda’s competitive basketball scene.
His passing marks another painful loss for Ugandan sport, which has mourned the deaths of several active athletes this year, including basketball player Maxine Modesty Anyango, footballer Cissy Nantongo, and rugby players Sydney Gongodyo and ex-international Adnan Kawuma.
