The 2026 National Basketball League men’s champion will be decided in Hoima after Namuwongo Blazers forced a winner-takes-all Game Seven by defeating City Oilers 82-64 in Game Six.
The defending champions will face the ten-time champions at the Hoima City Arena this Saturday, August 22, 2026 in a historic final away from Kampala.
Namuwongo entered Game Six under protest after the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations rejected their petition challenging the eligibility of six City Oilers players.
FUBA ruled that Malual Dier and Germaine Roebuck are Ugandan citizens and therefore do not count among the four foreign players allowed on a game day.
Despite the dispute, the Blazers chose to honour the fixture and responded on court with a commanding 82-64 victory, levelling the best-of-seven series at 3-3 after City Oilers had taken a 3-2 lead.
Namuwongo CEO Daniel Muttu Obol says the team decided to play in the interest of the sport despite disagreeing with FUBA’s decision, insisting that the federation’s rules must be followed.
“We told the boys that we can do it, let’s play. Not that we are not against the FUBA decision. The FUFA rules must be applied,” noted Obol.
Obol also welcomed the decision to take Game Seven to Hoima, saying the move could help government take basketball more seriously, although he called for greater support for the sport.
“I would think that the minister would mobilize some resources for the team in terms of fuel and accommodation if government wanted the Hoima city stadium arena use. But let’s go and play but also make some adventures,” he noted.
Basketball fan and sports administrator ASP Gilbert Nyaika echoed the sentiments, saying that taking the final to Hoima will help grow the sport beyond Kampala.
He believes fans in the Bunyoro sub-region will fill the arena and asserts that basketball should be played in a facility built specifically for the sport.
“If we do not play from Hoima then who would play from there. Let the fans go to Hoima in numbers and color Bunyoro. The move will also help grow the sport outside Kampala,” he observed.
Other fans have also welcomed the opportunity to watch the championship decider in Hoima, although some feel the short notice and distance from Kampala could keep a significant number of supporters away.
Game Seven will be played at the 2,000-plus capacity Hoima City Arena, where either Namuwongo Blazers or City Oilers will be crowned the 2026 NBL men’s champions.
