Organising body | FUBA |
---|---|
Founded | 1995 |
First season | 1995 |
Country | Uganda |
Confederation | FIBA Africa |
Number of teams | 12 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Division 1 |
International cup(s) | Africa Champions Cup |
Current champions |
City Oilers (9th title) ( 2023) |
Most championships | City Oilers (9 titles) |
Website | Official website |
2024 NBL Uganda season |
The National Basketball League is a semi-professional basketball league in Uganda that is the highest division of men's basketball in the country. [1] The league currently consists of 13 teams.
Established in 1995, media often highlights the league's physicality. [2] The City Oilers dominated during the 2010s, winning seven straight NBL titles. The Oilers are the league's most decorated team with nine won championships, which were all won consecutively. [3]
Basketball was introduced in Uganda in 1962, by the American Peace Corps and East African teachers. During the 1970s and 80s, economic hardship in the country meant a decline of the sport in the country as many schools abandoned the game. [4]
A national basketball league was founded in 1995 and started with six teams: the Kyambogo Warriors, Blue Jackets, Black Power, Rhino, Sky Jammers and Makerere University. Since 2003, the league was expanded with a second-level league, named Division 1. Since 2019, there has also been a third level named Division 2. [5]
The City Oilers entered the league in 2013 and have since then dominated, winning nine consecutive titles. [3]
Team | Location |
---|---|
City Oilers | Silver Springs, Kampala |
Ndejje University | Ndejje University, Kampala |
Betway Power | Y.M.C.A, Kampala |
Our Saviour | Makerere University, Kampala |
Kampala Universe (Men) | Kampala University, Kampala |
Kyambogo Warriors | Kyambogo, Kampala |
UCU Canons | Uganda Christian University, Kampala |
JKL Dolphins | Namboole, Kampala |
KIU Titans | Kampala International University, Kampala |
Sharing Youth | Sharing Youth, Kampala |
Falcons | Makerere University, Kampala |
KCCA Men | Nakasero Primary School, Kampala |
Season | Champion | Finalist | Finals score | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1995 | Makerere | |||
1996 | Power | |||
1997 | Charging Rhino | |||
1998 | Falcons | |||
1999 | Falcons (2) | |||
2000 | Sadoline Power (2) | |||
2001 | Sky Jammers | |||
2002 | Falcons (3) | |||
2003 | Falcons (4) | |||
2004 | Falcons (5) | |||
2005 | Nkumba Marines | |||
2006 | Nkumba Marines (2) | |||
2007 | Falcons (6) | Kyambogo Warriors | 3–2 | [6] |
2008 | Sadoline Power (3) | Falcons | 3–1 | [7] |
2009 | Kyambogo Warriors | |||
2010 | DMark Power (4) | Kyambogo Warriors | 4–3 | [8] |
2011 | DMark Power (5) | Kyambogo Warriors | 3–0 | [9] |
2012 | Kyambogo Warriors (2) | Falcons | [10] | |
2013 | City Oilers | Falcons | [6] | |
2014 | City Oilers (2) | Power | 4–0 | [11] |
2015 | City Oilers (3) | UCU Canons | 4–3 | [12] |
2016 | City Oilers (4) | Betway Power | 4–1 | [13] |
2017 | City Oilers (5) | Betway Power | [14] | |
2018 | City Oilers (6) | Betway Power | [15] | |
2019 | City Oilers (7) | UCU Canons | 4–3 | [16] |
2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | [17] | ||
2021 | ||||
2022 | City Oilers (8) | Nam Blazers | 4–3 | [18] |
2023 | City Oilers (9) | KIU Titans | 4–2 | [3] |
Team | Wins | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
City Oilers | 9 | 0 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 | – |
Falcons | 6 | 3 | 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 | 2008, 2012, 2013 |
Power | 5 | 4 | 1996, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011 | 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
Kyambogo Warriors | 2 | 3 | 2009, 2012 | 2007, 2010, 2011 |
Nkumba Marines | 2 | 0 | 2005, 2006 | – |
Makerere University | 1 | 0 | 1995 | – |
Charging Rhino | 1 | 0 | 1997 | – |
Sky Jammers | 1 | 0 | 2001 | – |
UCU Canons | 0 | 2 | – | 2015, 2019 |
Nam Blazers | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |
KIU Titans | 0 | 1 | – | 2023 |
Each year, the FUBA Awards are held, and the most valuable player of the league is named. [19]
Year | Most Valuable Player | Playoffs MVP | Top Scorer | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Bernard Okumu (Vegetarians) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) | [20] |
2014 | Jimmy Enabu (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (2) (Oilers) | [21] | |
2015 | Brian Namake (UCU Canons) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (3) (Oilers) | [22] |
2017 | Jordin Mayes (Oilers) | Asher Sserugo
(Oilers) |
Jordin Mayes (Oilers) | [23] |
2018 | Michael Makiadi (Power) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | Michael Makiadi (Power) | [24] |
2019 | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | James Okello (Oilers) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | [25] |
2020 | Syrus Kiviiri (Power) | James Okello (2) (Oilers) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | [19] |
2022 | Tonny Drileba (Oilers) | James Okello (3) (Oilers) | [26] | |
2023 | Titus Lual (Oilers) | Titus Lual (Oilers) | Peter Cheng (Blazers) | [27] |
The FUBA also organises the Division 1 (second level) and Division 2 (third level) leagues.
Season | Winners | Runners-up | Finals score | MVP |
---|---|---|---|---|
2019 [28] [29] | UDPF Tomahawks | Namuwongo Blazers | 3–2
|
Felix Mukunzi |
2018 [30] | KU | Falcons | ||
2022 [31] | Kampala Rockets | Rezlife Saints | 3–2
|
|
2023 [32] | Livingstone | JT Jaguars | 3–2
|
Bismarck Omoya |
Season | Winners |
---|---|
2021 [32] | Livingstone |