# National Basketball League (Uganda)

The National Basketball League is a semi-professional basketball league in Uganda that is the highest division of men's basketball in the country. The league currently consists of 13 teams.
Established in 1995, media often highlights the league's physicality. The City Oilers dominated during the 2010s, winning seven straight NBL titles. The Oilers are the league's most decorated team with ten won championships, which were all won consecutively.
The champions of each season qualify for the Road to BAL, the qualifying rounds of the Basketball Africa League (BAL).

## History

Basketball was introduced in Uganda in 1962, by the American Peace Corps and East African teachers. During the 1970s and 80s, economic hardship in the country meant a decline of the sport in the country as many schools abandoned the game.
A national basketball league was founded in 1995 and started with six teams: the Kyambogo Warriors, Blue Jackets, Black Power, Rhino, Sky Jammers and Makerere University. Since 2003, the league was expanded with a second-level league, named Division 1. Since 2019, there has also been a third level named Division 2.
The City Oilers entered the league in 2013 and have since then dominated, winning ten consecutive titles.

## Current clubs

| Team | Location |
| City Oilers | Silver Springs, Kampala |
| Ndejje University | Ndejje University, Kampala |
| Betway Power | Y.M.C.A, Kampala |
| Our Saviour | Makerere University, Kampala |
| Kampala Universe (Men) | Kampala University, Kampala |
| Kyambogo Warriors | Kyambogo, Kampala |
| UCU Canons | Uganda Christian University, Kampala |
| JKL Dolphins | Namboole, Kampala |
| KIU Titans | Kampala International University, Kampala |
| Sharing Youth | Sharing Youth, Kampala |
| Falcons | Makerere University, Kampala |
| KCCA Men | Nakasero Primary School, Kampala |

## Past champions

| Season | Champion | Finalist | Finals score |
| 1995 | Makerere | | |
| 1996 | Power | | |
| 1997 | Charging Rhino | | |
| 1998 | Falcons | | |
| 1999 | Falcons (2) | | |
| 2000 | Sadoline Power (2) | | |
| 2001 | Sky Jammers | | |
| 2002 | Falcons (3) | | |
| 2003 | Falcons (4) | | |
| 2004 | Falcons (5) | | |
| 2005 | Nkumba Marines | | |
| 2006 | Nkumba Marines (2) | | |
| 2007 | Falcons (6) | Kyambogo Warriors | 3–2 |
| 2008 | Sadoline Power (3) | Falcons | 3–1 |
| 2009 | Kyambogo Warriors | | |
| 2010 | DMark Power (4) | Kyambogo Warriors | 4–3 |
| 2011 | DMark Power (5) | Kyambogo Warriors | 3–0 |
| 2012 | Kyambogo Warriors (2) | Falcons | |
| 2013 | City Oilers | Falcons | |
| 2014 | City Oilers (2) | Power | 4–0 |
| 2015 | City Oilers (3) | UCU Canons | 4–3 |
| 2016 | City Oilers (4) | Betway Power | 4–1 |
| 2017 | City Oilers (5) | Betway Power | |
| 2018 | City Oilers (6) | Betway Power | |
| 2019 | City Oilers (7) | UCU Canons | 4–3 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | City Oilers (8) | Nam Blazers | 4–3 |
| 2023 | City Oilers (9) | KIU Titans | 4–2 |
| 2024 | City Oilers (10) | KIU Titans | 4–0 |

### Titles by team

| Team | Wins | Runners-up | Years won | Years runner-up |
| City Oilers | 10 | 0 | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 | – |
| Falcons | 6 | 3 | 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007 | 2008, 2012, 2013 |
| Power | 5 | 4 | 1996, 2000, 2008, 2010, 2011 | 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Kyambogo Warriors | 2 | 3 | 2009, 2012 | 2007, 2010, 2011 |
| Nkumba Marines | 2 | 0 | 2005, 2006 | – |
| Makerere University | 1 | 0 | 1995 | – |
| Charging Rhino | 1 | 0 | 1997 | – |
| Sky Jammers | 1 | 0 | 2001 | – |
| UCU Canons | 0 | 2 | – | 2015, 2019 |
| KIU Titans | 0 | 2 | – | 2023, 2024 |
| Nam Blazers | 0 | 1 | – | 2022 |

## Individual awards

Each year, the FUBA Awards are held, and the most valuable player of the league is named.
| Year | Most Valuable Player | Playoffs MVP | Top Scorer |
| 2013 | Bernard Okumu (Vegetarians) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) |
| 2014 | | Jimmy Enabu (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (2) (Oilers) |
| 2015 | Brian Namake (UCU Canons) | Kami Kabange (Oilers) | Kami Kabange (3) (Oilers) |
| 2017 | Jordin Mayes (Oilers) | Asher Sserugo (Oilers) | Jordin Mayes (Oilers) |
| 2018 | Michael Makiadi (Power) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | Michael Makiadi (Power) |
| 2019 | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) | James Okello (Oilers) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) |
| 2020 | Syrus Kiviiri (Power) | James Okello (2) (Oilers) | Landry Ndikumana (Oilers) |
| 2022 | Tonny Drileba (Oilers) | James Okello (3) (Oilers) | |
| 2023 | Titus Lual (Oilers) | Titus Lual (Oilers) | Peter Cheng (Blazers) |
| 2024 | | Titus Lual (Oilers) | |

## Division 1 and Division 2 winners

The FUBA also organises the Division 1 (second level) and Division 2 (third level) leagues.

### Division 1

| Season | Winners | Runners-up | Finals score | MVP |
| 2019 | UDPF Tomahawks | Namuwongo Blazers | 3–2 | Felix Mukunzi |
| 2018 | KU | Falcons | | |
| 2022 | Kampala Rockets | Rezlife Saints | 3–2 | |
| 2023 | Livingstone | JT Jaguars | 3–2 | Bismarck Omoya |

### Division 2

| Season | Winners |
| 2021 | Livingstone |