Defending National Basketball League (NBL) champions Namuwongo Blazers are poised to secure their second victory of the 2026 regular season when they face UMU Flames in a crucial matchup at Abja Park in Naalya.

The game, scheduled for March 11, 2026, sees the Blazers enter with a 1-1 record after opening the campaign with a loss to City Oilers before bouncing back with a convincing win over UCU Canons.

Key performers in that victory included Ntembo Fataki (14 points) and Innocent Ochera (10 points).

The team will welcome back reinforcements Nyembo (fresh from World Cup qualifiers with DR Congo) and Peter Obleng (from Uganda Silverbacks duty), boosting their lineup for the contest.Meanwhile, UMU Flames arrive with an 0-4 record, still searching for their first win of the season.

Their most recent outing was a 57-75 defeat to Victoria Crocs, where they struggled on the boards (outrebounded 42-55) and from beyond the arc (6-of-34 three-point attempts). Standouts in that game included Brian Rothwel Torach (16 points) and Agot Agot (14 points), but the Flames have yet to find consistency.

As defending champions—having ended City Oilers’ long dominance by clinching the 2025 NBL title—the Blazers are favored to capitalize on their returning talent and home-court advantage at Abja Park.

A win would solidify their early-season momentum as they defend the crown in what promises to be a competitive 2026 campaign.

The National Basketball League continues to showcase Uganda’s top basketball talent, with teams vying for playoff positioning amid growing fan interest following last year’s historic title shift.