The player and team registration deadline ahead of the 2026 NBL season passed and there were a lot of player movements.

We take a look at some of the various new signings who could have major impact for their teams in the season.

Becky Longom

Longom missed most of the 2025 NBL season due to injury but returned to take part in some games in the finals. Becky has matured in her game over the years and returning to the KCCA Leopards is a big move for her. The Leopards have a thin squad and is probably their best center. She will heavily be relied upon in this season.

Also, Becky has a chance to grow her value as a player. In JKL, she was just a squad player but right now she has an opportunity to be the star of the team.

Kipo Gisele Kelya

It is very rare that you see a player on a National team of any other country come to play in Uganda. However, the Magic Stormers signed Cameroonian Kelya Kipo who was part of the team that played at the 2025 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket.

Youngster Kelya is one that could turn out to give multiple teams headaches. At the U18 Afrobaket, she averaged 14.7 points which is very impressive.

To matter it even better, she has played at the continental stage with Forces Armees et Police Basketball and has experience despite her young age.  She is definitely someone to watch out for.

Bisiku Mputu Grace

Grace is also one of the top players from the Democratic Republic of Congo and she is a National Team player. She averaged 8 points and 7.5 rebounds at the 2023 Women’s Afrobasket qualifiers.

Mputu has experience having played in the FIBA Africa Champions Cup in 2022.

Usually, players that feature for their countries at senior level are exceptional and we shall be waiting to see what Grace can do in Uganda.

Mary Hazel Ssengendo

The U18 youngster could become a sensation and having transferred to Victoria University, she can be able to impact them a lot. Mary is a versatile player that can be used as a one, two or three. Most importantly, she is still young and can adapt to different roles.

Francine Mukendi Tshimanga

Victoria University suffered a lot in the paint during the 2025 Division One Finals against pearl Queens. They thus brought in Francine Mukendi who is very gifted size wise. She is a person that can pick rebounds given her height and you only hope that she can be able to score some put backs.

She is a person that will help a lot and given that she has played for her National team before, her experience will come in handy.

Mariam Namukwaya

Namukwaya is one of the few people that scored 30+ points in a game during the 2025 NBL season. There is no doubt that she will be a star in the future but for now, her role will be to back up Shillah Lamunu.

The Lady Canons have a chance to win it all but they need firepower off the bench and that is exactly what Mariam could do for them. Shillah Lamunu played heavy minutes in 2025 and it’s down to the fact that she had no back up. This time around, she has a backup that can easily turn the game around.

If UCU is to go all the way, Namukwaya has to have some top performances.

Amy Chan Grace

Chan was one to the top performers for YMCA in the 2025 Division season despite playing only the first round. In 2023, she scooped almost all the end of season accolades including, most rebounds, most blocks and others.

She is young, athletic, has very good height and has played in Uganda for a while now. Grace will be a very good player in the paint and will provide cover for Mercy Batamuliza or Sarah Ageno.

Bridget Aber

The 2022 NBL champion is the latest of the flock from UCU to the JT Jaguars. Aber has a lot of experience and is a person that could help the Jaguars solve some problems in the paint.

This is a person who could give the team a new dimension of playing both offensively and defensively. Secondly, she will also be among the many quality options that the Lady jaguars in the paint.

Since she has won the championship before, Aber will also add that to the team since their goal is to win it all.