Uganda national netball team

Uganda
Nickname(s)The She-Cranes
AssociationUganda Netball Federation
ConfederationAfrica Netball
Head coachFred Mugerwa
Asst coachPeace Proscovia
CaptainIrene Eyaru
World ranking6 Increase
Team colours
Team colours
Netball World Cup
Appearances4 (Debuted in 1979)
2023 placing5th
Best result5th (2023)
Commonwealth Games
Appearances2 (Debuted in 2018)
2022 placing5th
Best result5th (2022)

The Uganda national netball team, also known as the She-Cranes, represent the Uganda Netball Federation in international netball tournaments, such as the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Uganda have won Africa Netball Cup, All-Africa Games and Netball Singapore Nations Cup tournaments. Their best results in major tournaments are fifth place finishes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. As of 25 July 2024, Uganda are sixth in the World Netball Rankings.

Tournament history

Major tournaments

Netball World Cup

Uganda made their Netball World Cup debut in 1979. With a team coached by Ben Mary Muwanga and captained by Suzan Ddumba Namatovu, they finished 13th.[1][2][3]

Uganda qualified for 2015 Netball World Cup after winning the 2014 African Netball Championships.[4][5][6] In their opening game of the tournament they defeated Zambia 74–38 with Peace Proscovia scoring 56 goal.[7] Uganda would eventually finish in eighth place after losing a play off to Wales.[8][9]

Uganda qualified for the 2019 Netball World Cup after winning the 2018 African Netball Championships.[10][11] Uganda would finish in seventh place after defeating Zimbabwe 58–47 in a play off.[12][13]

At the 2023 Netball World Cup, with a team featuring Mary Cholhok Nuba and captained by Irene Eyaru, Uganda finished the tournament in 5th place. In a play off they defeated the hosts South Africa 49–47.[14][15][16]

Tournaments Place
1979 World Netball Championships[1][2] 13th
2015 Netball World Cup[7][8][9] 8th
2019 Netball World Cup[12][13] 7th
2023 Netball World Cup[14][15][16] 5th

Commonwealth Games

Uganda made their Commonwealth Games debut in 2018. They finished the tournament in sixth place, after losing a play off to South Africa 53–42.[17][18][19][20] At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Uganda finished fifth after defeating South Africa 54–48 in a play off.[21]

Tournaments Place
2018 Commonwealth Games[17][18][19][20] 6th
2022 Commonwealth Games[21] 5th

African tournaments

Uganda also competes in competitions against other African national teams. These include the Africa Netball Cup, the Diamond Challenge, tournaments at the All-Africa Games and Netball World Cup qualifiers.[22][23]

All-Africa Games

Tournaments Place
2011 All-Africa Games[24] 1st

Africa Netball Cup

Tournaments Place
2013 African Netball Championship[25][26] 3rd
2014 African Netball Championships[4][5][6] 1st
2017 African Netball Championships[27][28] 1st
2018 African Netball Championships[10][11] 1st
2019 Africa Netball Cup 3rd

Diamond Challenge

Since 2012, Netball South Africa has hosted the Diamond Challenge. The trophy is contested with mainly visiting African national teams, including Uganda.

Tournaments Place
2015 Diamond Challenge[29] 3rd
2016 Diamond Challenge[30][31] 3rd
2021 SPAR Challenge Series[32][33][34] 2nd

Netball World Cup qualifiers

Tournaments Place
2011 World Netball Championships Qualifier[35] n/a

Invitational tournaments and series

Uganda have competed in several invitational tournaments, including when, with a team captained by Peace Proscovia and coached by Fred Mugerwa, they won the 2013 Netball Singapore Nations Cup. Before this tournament, they had not played outside of Africa since 1979. They were unranked and only secured government funding at the last minute after making a plea for public help via the New Vision newspaper. The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, also donated to the Uganda Netball Federation to help with the cost. Uganda missed their flights and missed their opening match against the United States. They arrived on day two of the competition, after a ten hour flight, just six hours before their first match. Despite everything, they beat the Republic of Ireland 54–41. They then drew with Papua New Guinea 52–52 to stay in contention. They subsequently defeated Singapore and Sri Lanka to qualify for the final. In the final they defeated Singapore 52–29, with Peace Proscovia scoring 30 goals.[36][37][38][39]

Tournaments Place
2013 Netball Singapore Nations Cup[36][37][38][39] 1st
2022 England Uganda netball series[40][41] 2nd
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series[42][43] 5th
2024 Netball Nations Cup[44][45][46][47] 4th

Notable players

Current squad

The current squad was selected for the 2024 Netball Nations Cup.[16][44][45][48]

Uganda roster
Players Coaches
Name Pos DOB Height Club Nat Caps
Lillian Achola C, WA (1999-07-15)15 July 1999 (aged 24) –
Florence Adunia WD, GD –
Margret Baagala C, WA (2002-05-09)9 May 2002 (aged 21) –
Mercy Batamuliza GS, WA –
Mary Cholhok Nuba GS (1997-01-03)3 January 1997 (aged 27) 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) Loughborough Lightning
Irene Eyaru (c) WA, GA (1996-10-23)23 October 1996 (aged 27) – KCCA
Falidah Kadondi GD, GK (1998-11-09)9 November 1998 (aged 25) –
Haniisha Muhameed GS, GK (1999-08-08)8 August 1999 (aged 24) – Surrey Storm
Christine Nakitto GD, WD (2001-12-28)28 December 2001 (aged 22) – KCCA
Sarah Nakiyunga WA, C (2000-10-12)12 October 2000 (aged 23) – NIC
Sandra Nambirige GD, WD –
Christine Namulumba Kango GS (1999-04-03)3 April 1999 (aged 24) – Prisons
Shadiah Nassanga GA, GS –
Head coach
  • Fred Mugerwa
Assistant coach


Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated:
7 October 2024

Captains

Years Captains
1979 Suzan Ddumba Namatovu[2]
2011 Amono Florence[24]
2013–2023 Peace Proscovia[49][50]
2016 Irene Eyaru[51]
2021 Stella Oyella[32]
2022 Joan Nampungu[42][43]
2023– Irene Eyaru[16][45][49]

Coaches

Head coaches

Coach Years
Ben Mary Muwanga[2][3] 1975–1985
Fred Mugerwa[24][36][52] 2011–2015
Rashid Mubiru[53][54] 2015–2017
Vincent Kiwanuka[27][54] 2017–2019
Rashid Mubiru[32][54] 2019–2021
Imelda Nyongesa[18] 2018
Fred Mugerwa[52][55] 2021–

Assistant coaches

Coach Years
Peace Proscovia[45][48] 2024

Honours

References

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  2. ^ a b c d "When Uganda played at the World Cup". www.observer.ug. 20 April 2009. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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  4. ^ a b "Uganda qualifies for Netball World Cup after beating Swaziland". www.kawowo.com. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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  8. ^ a b "Wales claim 7th spot with win over She Cranes". nwc2015.com.au. 16 August 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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