Namuwongo Blazers begin their Road to the Basketball Africa League qualifying campaign against Comoros’ Ushindzi at Hoima Arena on Wednesday at 7pm. The five-team tournament runs until October 25, with the top two teams qualifying for the Elite 16.
South Sudan’s Patriots, Burundi’s Urunani and Madagascar’s COSPIN are the other contenders for the two places. Namuwongo face COSPN on Thursday at 7pm, Patriots on Saturday at 6pm and Urunani on Sunday at 6pm.
The Ugandan champions have added experienced players and Spanish coach Louis Lopez Hernandez, who previously guided Ferroviario da Beira to the BAL twice. American guard Richaud Pack, Nigerian centre Peter Olisemake, naturalised Congolese point guard Jonathan Jordan and Senegalese forward Makhtar Gueye are among the new arrivals.
Gueye was part of Senegal’s bronze-winning team at the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket and also featured at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. Olisemake averaged nine points and ten rebounds per game for Maktown Flyers during the 2025-26 BAL campaign.
The Elite 16 is scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, from November 24 to 29, 2026.
