Uganda's NBL Dips Off Early: Eyes on BAL, Avoiding Last Year's Chaos!

The Uganda National Basketball League (NBL) is breaking with tradition and starting its 2026 season on February 6th. This is significantly earlier than the usual late March tip-off. The Uganda Federation of Basketball Associations (FUBA) made the decision based on the troubles experienced last year, where the league faced challenges in determining its representatives for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) due to a tight schedule.

In 2025, the Namuwongo Blazers protested FUBA's initial decision to send the City Oilers to the BAL before the NBL season had concluded. This controversy highlighted the need for a more proactive approach to scheduling to allow the league champion to fairly represent Uganda in the prestigious pan-African tournament. By starting earlier, FUBA hopes to avoid similar issues and ensure a smoother qualification process.

The 2026 NBL season will maintain its format of 12 men's and 12 women's teams competing in a double round-robin system. The top eight teams from each league will then proceed to the playoffs to battle for the national titles. With registration already underway since December 30, 2025, teams are actively preparing for what promises to be an intriguing season with new teams and potentially new champions.