Namuwongo Blazers confirm participation in Road to BAL 2026 qualifiers

Namuwongo Blazers Basketball Club has officially confirmed its participation in the Road to Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 Qualifiers, set to take place from October 15–19 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Wednesday, October 1, and signed by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Muttu Obol.

“Namuwongo Blazers Basketball Club is pleased to confirm its participation in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) 2026 Qualifiers,” the statement read. “We are honoured to represent Uganda in this prestigious tournament and are fully committed to showcasing our talent and growth on the continental stage.”

The confirmation follows the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA)’s approval last month for Namuwongo Blazers to represent Uganda in the 2026 qualifiers. The decision was reached during a consultative meeting held on September 19 at the Uganda Olympic Committee offices in Lugogo, Kampala, attended by FUBA officials and representatives from the four 2025 NBL semifinalist teams: City Oilers, Namuwongo Blazers, Sommet, and UCU Canons.

This resolution came after a period of tension between the Blazers and FUBA. The club had earlier protested FUBA’s nomination of 2024 champions City Oilers for the BAL 2025 qualifiers, arguing that their own performance as 2025 regular season leaders had been overlooked. After discussions, FUBA agreed to send Namuwongo Blazers to the 2026 qualifiers, effectively ending the standoff.

During the same meeting, FUBA announced a new approach to selecting Uganda’s BAL representatives. It was agreed that the 2025 NBL champion would not automatically qualify for any FIBA club tournament. Instead, a revised league calendar was introduced: the 2026 NBL season will run from January to July, giving the champion ample time to prepare for the Road to BAL 2027. FUBA confirmed that this format will remain in place unless further changes are made.

Namuwongo Blazers have long been in the BAL conversation but are yet to make their tournament debut. In 2022, they narrowly lost to City Oilers in a dramatic Game 7 final. In 2023, they withdrew from the playoffs in protest after FUBA awarded the BAL slot to Oilers based on their previous title. In 2024, they were eliminated in the semifinals by KIU Titans.

Domestically, the Blazers face another major test as they prepare to take on defending champions City Oilers in the 2025 NBL Finals, tipping off on Tuesday, October 7 at Lugogo Indoor Arena. The finals will follow a best-of-seven format, with the first team to win four games crowned champion. A potential Game 7 is scheduled for October 22.

However, the BAL qualifiers, set for October 15–19, present a scheduling challenge, potentially overlapping with the NBL Finals.

In the BAL East Division Group D qualifiers, Namuwongo Blazers are expected to face Dar City (Tanzania), Dynamo (Burundi), and Gamble (Ethiopia), though official fixtures are yet to be confirmed.