Kampala, Uganda: For the first time in 12 years, Uganda’s National Basketball League (NBL) crowned new champions, the Namuwongo Blazers, ending the long-standing reign of the City Oilers, who had dominated the league since 2013.
On Wednesday, November 5, at the MTN Lugogo Indoor Arena, the Blazers completed a spirited comeback as they sealed their fairy-tale season with a 68–55 victory in Game Six, to clinch the best-of-seven finals series 4–2. The result marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Ugandan basketball.
Under the stewardship of head coach Stephen “Escodata” Nyeko, the Blazers showcased sheer grit, tactical brilliance, and a never-say-die attitude. Despite losing the first two games of the finals, the Namuwongo-based side rallied back with four consecutive wins, shocking the basketball fraternity and securing their first-ever NBL title.
“We refused to quit. Even when everyone wrote us off after Game Two, we stayed focused. This team has heart — and tonight, we made history,” Coach Escodata said after the game, visibly emotional.
From Slum Court to National Champions
Founded in 2015 and promoted to the top division in 2019, the Namuwongo Blazers have risen from a small community outfit to a powerhouse of Ugandan basketball. Their transformation from a passionate neighborhood team to national champions is one of the sport’s most inspiring stories.
This season, the Blazers topped the regular-season standings, swept RezLife Saints in the quarterfinals, and defeated UCU Canons in the semifinals, setting up a blockbuster final against the defending champions, City Oilers.
The finals were not just a contest of teams but of legacy versus hunger. Several ex-Oilers stars; including James Okello, Tonny Drilleba, Ivan Muhwezi, and Jimmy Enabu, had crossed over to the Blazers, giving the matchup the flavor of an in-house rivalry and a mission of redemption.
Game Six started tight, with the Blazers leading by six midway through the first quarter before the Oilers closed the gap to lead 16–15 at the break. The Oilers extended their lead early in the second quarter, going 9–0, but the Blazers roared back with a 17–2 run powered by Joel Lukoji’s three-pointer, followed by back-to-back deep shots from Enabu and Okello.
From that point, the Oilers never recovered. Their usually sharp offense faltered under the Blazers’ relentless defense. “We saw them tiring,” said Blazers captain James Okello, who led his side with 16 points. “We trusted our game plan, kept the pressure on, and they broke down.”
In the decisive moments, Tonny Drilleba’s late three-pointer extended the lead to nine, sealing the Oilers’ fate and sparking wild celebrations among Namuwongo fans.
Standout Performances
- James Okello – 16 points
- Jimmy Enabu – 12 points off the bench
- Tonny Drilleba – 10 points, including the game-clinching three
- Peter Obleng – 11 points
- Joel Lukoji – Orchestrated the offense and led from the front
- For the Oilers, Chad Bowie Jordan managed 13 points, but it wasn’t enough to save the champions.
Joel Lukoji was deservedly named Playoffs MVP and Regular Season MVP, finishing the campaign with 183 regular-season points, 49 steals, and 70 assists, and 297 points, 63 steals, and 106 assists in the playoffs.
“Winning both MVP awards and the championship is beyond a dream,” said Lukoji. “But this is for Namuwongo — the fans, the kids, and everyone who believed we could.”
End of an Era for City Oilers
For the first time since 2013, City Oilers, the most successful club in NBL history, were dethroned. Their record of 10 straight championships stands as an unmatched achievement, but their loss to the Blazers symbolizes a changing of the guard in Ugandan basketball.
“We congratulate Namuwongo Blazers,” said Oilers captain Fayed Baale, who finished the season as Top Scorer with 363 points and won the Best 3-Point Shooter Award. “They deserved it. We’ll regroup and come back stronger.”
Joseph Chuma of the Oilers took the Top Rebounder Award with 289 boards, while Joel Kayiira of UCU Canons won Defensive Player of the Year.
Blazers eye on the Continent: The BAL Dream
The Blazers’ victory earns them a slot in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) Elite 16, to be held in Kenya from November 18–23. It will be their debut appearance on the continental stage, representing Uganda’s new wave of basketball excellence.
“We are not going there to participate; we’re going to compete,” Coach Escodata vowed. “If we can beat the Oilers, we can challenge anyone in Africa.”
With a combination of youth, experience, and fearlessness, the Namuwongo Blazers have redefined Ugandan basketball — proving that hunger, unity, and belief can overturn dynasties.
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