Oilers recruit big; plot return

For a decade, City Oilers Basketball Club ruled Ugandan basketball with an authority rarely seen in any sport. They did not merely win — they reshaped the league’s thinking.

They taught managers that success demanded investment, planning, and professionalism. They turned structure into habit and excellence into expectation. The result was unprecedented: ten consecutive National Basketball League titles.

A full generation grew up knowing only one champion. The dominance felt untouchable. Unrepeatable. Almost mythical. But even the longest reigns end. Last season, the Namuwongo Blazers rewrote the script, dethroning the Oilers in a gripping six-game finals series that ended 4–2. It was dramatic. It was symbolic.

For many fans, it felt like liberation. “Removing the dictator,” some called it — not because the Oilers were villains, but because dominance, when stretched too long, inevitably invites rebellion.

Basketball lovers crave change, and Namuwongo delivered it. Now, with just three weeks to the start of the 2026 NBL season — slated for February 6 — a familiar question hangs heavily over the league: can the Oilers reclaim their throne? The signs suggest they are not surrendering quietly.

In a modern twist on the traditional press conference, City Oilers declared their intentions online. First came the departure of forwards Joseph Chuma and Moses Maker. Then, on January 10, 2026, what had long been whispered was confirmed via the club’s official X handle, @CityOilers.

“New season. New energy. Welcoming Joel Kayira, Landry Ndikumana and Banza Joel Lukoji to the Oilers Nation. Let’s go to work.”

And work they must. Kayira arrives from Mukono- based UCU Canons, bringing size, grit, and a willingness to do the hard things that rarely show on the stat sheet. Banza Lukoji crosses over from the defending champions Namuwongo Blazers — a move that instantly injects intrigue and edge into the title race.

Then there is Landry Ndikumana, a name that still echoes in Oilers folklore. The Burundian guard was central to seven championship runs and, in 2019, delivered one of the most dominant seasons in league history, sweeping both league and playoff MVP honours.

OILERS RETURN TO THEIR GLORY DAYS?

For head coach Andrew Tendo, the rebuild is intentional. Ndikumana brings intelligence, versatility, and calm leadership to the backcourt. Kayira adds physicality and relentless effort.

Lukoji offers ball- handling depth in a role that last season forced Chad Bowie to shoulder extra responsibility.

“We still have some pieces to add before we can settle,” Tendo told this reporter. “Last year was a huge learning block, and we are correcting those glitches.”

That honesty matters. The Oilers are no longer the untouchable emperors of old. The league has evolved. Teams have studied them, borrowed from them, and learned how to challenge them.

The emperor, as many now believe, is fallible. So, can the Oilers return to their glory days? The answer is neither simple nor guaranteed. The league is stronger. The challengers are bolder. The champions are hungry.

What is certain is this: the Oilers are not done, the Blazers are not backing down, and Ugandan basketball is entering one of its most competitive chapters yet. For the fans, that may be the biggest victory of all.