As it turned out, Uganda’s netball team at the 2023 World Cup is the best in the nation’s history, and JOHN VIANNEY NSIMBE traces their varying routes to the sport.
Lillian Achola
Arguably the smallest player that competed at the 2023 World Cup, Achola was considered the ‘baby’ of the She Cranes team because of her stature.
Born July 15, 1999, the World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa was Achola’s first opportunity to represent the country. Achola’s league performances for Weyonje netball club are what persuaded coach Fred Mugerwa to add her to what was largely an inexperienced side.
Achola was born in a family of seven, of which six are girls. But she started her netball journey in her P6 at Dr Archbishop Primary School in Nakirebe, Mpigi district.
She studied on bursaries at Kakungulu SS, St Juliana, Gombe SS, and Kibuli SS because of netball and handball. Achola is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Ndejje University, again on a netball bursary. This international star hails from Lamwo district.
Christine Namulumba Kango
Kango hails from Iganga district, the first of 12 children. With her tall body frame, on first glance, she is automatically athletic. Yet, as she recalls, netball was just forced onto her.
“I never had any interest in playing sport, until one teacher just ordered me to a netball court because he felt I was too tall to be doing no sport at Savannah High School,” Kango recalls.
Before Kango knew it, she was on her way to Madinah Islamic SS in Nsangi in her senior four, studying for free because of her prolific scoring in netball matches. Born April 3, 1999, Kango became a hot property within no time. And after her O-levels, she was given another bursary by Buddo SS, and one of her fondest memories, she said, was beating their fierce rivals, St Mary’s SS Kitende during the schools championships.
This Goal Shooter also plays basketball for JKL Dolphins. She started basketball in 2022, and because of her netball background, the adjustment has been easy. Kango’s dream is to play netball in Europe, Australia or New Zealand. In the meantime, she is pursuing a diploma in Human Resource Management at Victoria University, on scholarship, and plays for Prisons netball team, the current league champions.
Margaret Baagala
Baagala, a centre, was voted the best player in Uganda’s Netball World Cup opening fixture against Singapore. Known as the quiet and reserved one, Baagala plays her club netball at National Insurance Corporation. It was in 2013 that Baagala completed primary education at Kawaala primary school.
Her netball skill grew when she joined Kakungulu Memorial Secondary School in 2014 on a netball bursary. In 2015, St Mary’s SS Kitende scouted her in S2 and she remained there until 2020, when she completed her A-level.
From this point, it was evident that Baagala, born May 9, 2002, was destined for greatness. In her debut season in the National Netball Super League in 2021, she made it to the She Cranes team that travelled to Namibia for the Africa Netball Championship. In 2022, she went for the Commonwealth Games.
Born in a family of nine, Baagala is the lastborn and likes the finer things in life; she only carries iPhones.
Norah Lunkuse
Lunkuse is Margaret Baagala’s elder sister. The two had the honour of being the only siblings to represent the country at the World Cup.
Lunkuse was born January 30, 1998. She is referred to as the Picasso of the KCCA netball team midfield. Lunkuse is a witty wing-attacker. Her career started at Kawaala primary school, before joining St Mary’s SS, Kitende in 2012. She was there until 2017, winning six national and East African championships.
Lunkuse attributes her success to her former tutor Gerald Mukuye, who introduced her to netball and kept pushing her.
Irene Eyaru
The KCCA Wing-Attacker and Goal-Attacker was the captain of the She Cranes. Born in Arua on October 23, 1996, Eyaru lost her father during her P1.
Life seemed to have ended before it could start, because her father had seven wives, and because of that, there was never enough for everyone.
But the senior woman at her school advised her to start playing netball because she believed it was one way through which Eyaru could get study scholarships.
The senior woman could not have been more right; from senior one to the completion of her university education, netball educated Eyaru, and now, it is what puts bread on the table. Eyaru looks after her mother and siblings because of netball.
Christine Nakitto
Nakitto was one of the most impressive Goal Defenders at the netball World Cup. Born December 28, 2001 in Masuliita, Wakiso district, Nakitto is such an imposing figure on court, because of her speed, strength and imposing style.
Yet, as a pupil at Kabale Primary School in Masuliita, Nakitto used to be a runner with her favourite events being the 7km and 12km races. She was also renowned for her discus and javelin throwing because she is tall.
But in P5, netball was added to her collection of sports, where she started out as a Goalkeeper. Nakitto used her netball skill to study at Masuliita SS, Light College Katikamu, Exodus College School Wakiso, and Buddo SS. The KCCA player is now studying for a bachelor’s degree in Microfinance at Ndejje University, on scholarship.
Annet Najjuka
The only player of the 15 that travelled to South Africa that did not feature in a single game, she was one of three reserves on the squad.
Nonetheless, Najjuka, born July 21, 1998, said the experience was mindset-changing. As a Centre and Wing Attacker, she learnt a lot from the different squads.
“I started out as a long-distance runner in primary school back in Kalungu, Masaka, where I was born,” Najjuka said.
But after influence from friends, and thanks to her lanky frame, she traded the track for a netball court during her years at St Pius primary school, Masajja. Najjuka plays for KCCA.
Sarah Nakiyunga
While Nakiyunga went to the Netball World Cup as part of the three reserve players, injuries to her teammates got her knocking out the door from its hinges. She even played in the decisive fifth/sixth place playoff game against South Africa.
In many ways, that game felt like a final, because Uganda had at best finished seventh at the Netball World Cup.
“Going for such a huge tournament, and not playing hurts a bit. But my captain, Irene Eyaru kept encouraging me,” Nakiyunga said.
Yet, Nakiyunga, who was born on October 12, 2000, still harboured fear, when she was told to prepare to come on for that decisive game against South Africa.
“I almost told the coach to ask someone else. I was scared of the atmosphere. But I told myself that I came for this; to prove that I am a good netball player right from 2008, when I started playing in P5 at St Mary’s primary school, Kakinzi, Luwero, where I was born,” Nakiyunga said.
After her father got an accident in Nakiyunga’s P7 and was incapacitated, it was netball that was her saving grace. She went to Broadway High School, Kawempe and Ngando SS Butambala on netball scholarships up to S6.
Netball has got Nakiyunga a job at National Insurance Corporation (NIC) and a chance to pursue a Mass Communication degree at Kampala University. When Nakiyunga is not on court, she enjoys watching her favourite football side, Arsenal and she likes dancing to Cindy and King Saha’s music.
Shadia Nassanga
Nassanga was a chubby child growing up, but during her P7 vacation after seating her exams at Kiddawalime primary school in Namungoona, Kasubi, where she was born, Nassanga was introduced to netball.
At Exodus College Wakiso, in senior two, Nassanga, joined the school team. By senior three she was playing in the national league; aged 16, she turned out for KCCA in 2016.
At seven years, Nassanga had lost her father, and had to rely on her talent to pave way for her future. In S6, Dr Lawrence Mulindwa enrolled her at his St Mary’s SS Kitende and she has never been happier.
“I would have close to a million shillings as pocket money, once I got to Kitende. Dr Mulindwa used to treat the netball team as queens. He gave us the best care.”
Nassanga, 22, is currently at Victoria University pursuing a degree in Business Adminsitration. In her free time, she enjoys being with her four-year-old son, while listening to Kadongo-kamu music.
Mary Nuba
Getting pregnant at 20 and dropping out of school put Nuba in a dark place five years ago. But because of netball, she got a second lease to life. Nuba, 26, now plays professional netball in the UK at Loughborough Lightning, where she won the 2023 Super League title.
“Netball has not only given me a livelihood, but I am studying at one of the best sports universities because of it, and I want to use it as an inspiration for others feeling hopeless,” Nuba said.
Despite that, due to the fact that she is a firstborn, Nuba has a lot of responsibility. She has used netball to look after her son, four brothers, mother and extended family. She lost her father years ago. When she is not in the UK, she spends time with her family in South Sudan. Nuba enjoys yoga.
Stella Nanfuka
One of the veterans of the She Cranes, Nanfuka was born July 22, 1991. The recent World Cup was her second appearance at the grand stage of netball.
She was one of just two players on the team that had played at a World Cup, with a specific role, goal-keeping. Nanfuka started playing netball in S5 following the death of her father. Netball is what got her a bursary at St Balikuddembe Mitala Maria.
She completed high school and continued with her education at Kampala University on a netball scholarship, for a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
At 32, Nanfuka is reserved and unassuming. Discipline is one of her main virtues. But she is also known to spend a lot of time at St James Catholic church in Luzira. She is a mother and Prisons Service officer, also turning out for Prisons Netball Club, the league champions!
Haniisha Muhameed
Life was all about academics as far as Muhameed was concerned, but when she reached S5 at Kibuli SS, she was convinced to play netball because of her height.
In fact, the first time she told her parents that she was playing netball, her father was against it. But Muhameed quietly kept playing, and when she finished her A-level in 2018, Uganda Christian University, Mukono came calling with an offer of a scholarship, provided she played netball for the university team.
It was at that point that Muhameed, born August 8, 1999, made her parents realize how beneficial netball was. Muhameed, a Goal Shooter and Goal-Keeper, is known as the friendly and kind netball player. She loves to dance.
Shaffie Nalwanja
Nalwanja is among the best Wing Defenders at the recent Netball World Cup. Born in a family of four, Nalwanja is the first child of her parents. That has influenced her character – a born leader and protector. Nalwanja only started playing netball in 2015 during her A-level at Exodus College Wakiso.
“I did not have any interest initially. But once I was promised a scholarship, I said, why not?” Nalwanja said.
Born November 16, 1998, she has played through the development stages of Ugandan netball. In 2016, she played for the national Under-21 team and in 2018, she was on Uganda’s university team that won the World University Championships, when they beat South Africa in the final.
Nalwanja, who featured in all eight games Uganda competed in at the World Cup, holds a bachelor’s degree in Records and Information Management.
Faridah Kadondi
Kadondi was literally dragged out of her P5 class, to start playing netball at Butaleja Bugosa primary school back in 2009. But when she got to Kibuli SS, between S1 and four, her love for the sport grew. She later joined Luyanzi College SS in Bweyogerere on a scholarship.
Her father has been instrumental in pushing her to become a better netball player. Yet, now, she revealed tearifully, he is losing his sight and Kadondi is racing against time to get him treatment. Kadondi, a Goal Defender and Goal Keeper for Weyonje, also plays basketball for KCCA in the national basketball league. She was born November 9, 1998.
Viola Asingo
On several occasions, Asingo was the player that did not make the She Cranes cut whenever the team was preparing for international meets. But her resilience paid off this time, even when she travelled to Cape Town as a reserve player.
Illness and injuries on the main squad saw Asingo get a shot at glory, when she was included in the team that played Wales. A player for Prisons Netball team, Asingo dropped out of Kampala International University because of a pregnancy four years ago.
However, the former St Mary’s SS Kitende student, travelled over 40km every day, to make it to Luzira from Bombo and back, for training. She is testament to the fact that good things come to those that wait. She was born in September 24, 1997.
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