Uganda Cricket is set to deepen its international development efforts after strengthening ties with the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), a partnership that officials say has been made possible through the International Cricket Council’s increased focus on supporting Associate Members.
The collaboration is expected to provide Uganda with access to technical expertise, coaching education, player development opportunities and administrative capacity building as the Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) seeks to build on its recent rise in international cricket.
UCA chairman Jackson Kavuma credited ICC chairman Jay Shah for championing greater support for Associate nations and helping create stronger links between emerging cricket countries and established cricket institutions.
“Jay Shah has been instrumental in supporting Associate Members including Uganda. As part of his efforts to strengthen support for Associates, he encouraged the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to play a more active role in this agenda.
“Uganda was fortunate to have already established strong relations with Mumbai, particularly through Ajinkya Naik, President of MCA, which made engagement much easier. My personal relationship with Naik also played a significant role in helping Uganda build and strengthen this partnership with Mumbai,” Kavuma said.
The agreement between UCA and the Mumbai Cricket Association is expected to focus on knowledge sharing and long-term cooperation, with both organisations working together to improve technical and administrative standards.
Officials believe the partnership will allow Ugandan coaches, players and administrators to gain exposure to global best practices while helping strengthen the country’s overall cricket ecosystem.
Uganda’s growing international profile has been built on years of investment in governance, grassroots programmes and high-performance structures. That progress culminated in the Cricket Cranes’ historic qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, a milestone that elevated Uganda’s standing among Associate cricket nations.
The latest partnership follows Uganda’s recent tour of India, where the national side won three of its four matches while gaining valuable experience in one of the world’s most competitive cricket environments.
Cricket Uganda says strong governance remains at the centre of its development strategy, with international partnerships viewed as an important tool for institutional growth and long-term sustainability.
As Uganda continues to expand its global network and strengthen its structures, cricket officials believe the MCA partnership could provide another important step in the country’s ambition to become one of the leading Associate nations in world cricket.
