The 2026 NBL Season is going to be similar to what we saw in 2025 where multiple teams had chances to host games and multiples grounds were used at the same time.

In 2025, there was a slight change to the scheduling as we saw 6 games being played on most Wednesdays with 3 venues being used simultaneously.

This time round, we shall have something similar and the reliance on Lugogo will be less. The first fixture indicates that six gounds shall be used, namely, Lugogo Arena, YMCA, ABJA Parks, Jaguars Den, UCU Court and Rezlife in Lubowa.

There is one important thing to note. Most of those grounds are used by specific teams and this poses a question, is home advantage a thing in the NBL?

In 2025, the Namuwongo Blazers played a number of games at ABJA Parks and they won all of them. Against KIU, they hit a team high 18 3-point shots (most in the season) and also scored a season high 126 points against the KIU Titans at the same ground. It was a fortress for them.

In the first round of 2026, they are scheduled to play 3 games at home although the venue is set to host 5 game days. 2 of those 3 games will be on a Saturday and to make it better, they are the final games of the day.

Having the host team play the final game is good because the first games are like a starter to main course. Also, as people wait for the home game, they can enjoy some other teams.

The Jaguars Den will also host a number of games in the first round. In 2025, the venue was used for some games in the post season and it looks they will get more action this time.

The JT Jaguars will be in action on all the 4 game days hosted at the den. Their opening two games against the KCCA Panthers and Victoria Crocs will all be at home. Is there a possibility that they can make the place a fortress?

For the JT Lady Jaguars, they will only play 2 of their games at home. On those 2 occasions, they will be playing the opener before their men’s team goes into action.

Having the JT Jaguars and the Ladies play some games at home more so on a weekdays in good. It will push the club to attract fans around the area to come and support the team and the game of basketball.

Kira is quite a distance from the Central Business District where most of the basketball actions takes place. Bringing games closer to the communities can help the team and the league tap into a new fan base.

In 2025, Rezlife Saints was one of the teams that submitted their grounds as those that could be used and some games were allocated to them. However, they did not host any game. This time round, they have been give 3 game days to host and all are on a Wednesday. They face Victoria Crocs, JKL Dolphins and the Kampala Rockets at their home in Lubowa.

Will they actually host these games? If they do, can they get the fan base behind them and secure wins. If they can will all these 3 games, any team that is going to come to their home will have doubts and fear.

Also, Rezlife is a church based organization and they have very many people that fellowship with them. However, most of the congregants have never gotten a chance to see the team. If they have these games at home, it will be an opportunity to tap into a new fan base.

In 2025, the UCU Canons struggled a lot in the first round but whenever they played at home, they bagged wins. It is very difficult to remember the last time that the UCU Canons lost on home court.

In the first round of 2026 though, the venue will host 2 game days although the UCU Canons will not be in action in either. The UCU Lady canons will also play in just one of the game days.

It is very ironic how you take games to Mukono but neither team from Mukono plays a game. How do you expect to attract the students and people within the area to come and watch if the people/teams that know are not in action? Also, given that UCU is only hosting twice, it would have been better to have both the men and women play on those days just to please the crowds and potentially tap into a new fan base.

Victoria University listed YMCA as their hosting ground and their men shall play 4 games from their while the ladies will have 6 games there. However, it is important to note that YMCA is pretty much like Lugogo, a neutral ground. But given that the Victoria University teams practice from there, maybe they are most accustomed to it and thus a home advantage.

Performance by teams at their home grounds will be something we look at keenly. By the end of the first round, we shall be able to determine whether playing at home ground has an effect on the outcome or not.

The NBL tips-off on Friday 6th at Lugogo with the newly promoted Pearl Queens facing 2025 finalists, the JT Lady Jaguars while the City Oilers shall face the Namuwongo Blazers in a repeat of the 2025 NBL Finals.