How teams have performed at their home courts

In the 2026 NBL season, teams have won 15 of the 16 games played at their home courts. The only loss was the 75-74 defeat that the JT Jaguars suffered against the UPDF Tomahawks.

Avitus Ngabirano

May 27, 2026

3–5 minutes

In the 2026 NBL season so far, a number of teams have had games being played at their home courts. A total six (6) grounds have been used and the number will move to seven (7) after games are played at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo on Martyrs Day.

Of the 6 grounds that have been used, 4 are home grounds for some teams. However, the record that the home teams have is incredible. Of the 16 games that have been played by a team on home court, 1 have been won. This begs the question, is home advantage a thing?

Rezlife Saints in Lubowa

In the 2025 season, the Rezlife Saints were supposed to host a number of games at the Rezlife Park in Lubowa. However, things didn’t turn out as anticipated. The 2026 season as been different though as they have enjoyed a number of home games.

In the first round, they hosted 2 games, against the Victoria Crocs and the JKL Dolphins and won both games by a combined margin of 40 points. In the second round so far, they have played 3 games so far; against Sommet, Nam Blazers and UPDF Tomahawks and have won by a margin of 3 points.

The impressive performance was the victory against the defending champions were they went pound for pound against them and secured the win in the end. The home crowd was in full voice and it added to the energy that the team had more so down the stretch.

The Rezlife Saints will have one more regular season game on 3^rd June when they will face the JT Jaguars. Can they finish the season with 100% record at home?

Rezlife Saints after defeating the Namuwongo Blazers at home 📸 Rezlife Saints media

Namuwongo Blazers at ABJA Park

The Namuwongo Blazers’ home court in Nalya was used for the NBL in the 2025 season. This was a slaughter house and everyone who faced the Blazers’ from there was defeated. In 2026 so far, the Namuwongo Blazers have had the most ‘home’ games with 6 and the number will move to 7 after they face the Kampala Rockets. Just like the Rezlife Saints, they won all their home games.

In their first home game of the season, they won by 32 points, and when they faced the UPDF Tomahawks, they thumped them 106-68. The Blazers average 80 points scored and a winning margin of 24.6 points.

Kasereka Tembo in action for the Namuwongo Blazers at ABJA Park 📸 Latim

JT Jaguars at the Jaguars Den in Kira

The Jaguars Den hosted a couple of NBL games in the 2025 season, and it was thought that more action would be held there. However, there hasn’t been much action despite the initial fixture points to many games at the ground.

The Jaguars hosted the first weekend games of the season, and that is when the JT Jaguars made a huge comeback to defeat the KCCA Panthers. Their next home game was against the Victoria Crocs but it was interrupted when electricity went off. The Lady Jaguars though had played earlier and they secured a win against the Victoria She Crocs.

The Jaguars’ next and final regular season home game was against the UPDF Tomahawks and they lost 75-74. This is the only time that a team at home has lost a game this season and surprisingly, UPDF made a 15-point comeback in the fourth quarter.

In the second round, the JT Jaguars have not hosted any games. It is uncertain why that is the case but distance from the Central Business District and electricity incident might be having a hand in that.

Christian Odeke in action for the JT Jaguars against the Kampala Rockets at the Jaguars Den in Kira 📸 Morgan DT

UCU Canons in Mukono

It is very difficult to remember the last time that the UCU Canons lost a game at their home court in Mukono. In round one, they defeated the Victoria Crcos from there, even though Mark Ngobi dropped 33 points against them.

The round 2 game against the Rezlife Saints was a clear example of “home court is a thing. “ The Saints led by as many as 17 points early in the game but the UCU Canons mastered a comeback and won in the final 2 minutes of the game.

The UCU Canons also enjoyed a number of home games the 2025 season but they have hosted fewer games in 2026. One surprising thing is that the Lady Canons have not played at home all season.

The plan by FUBA was to have multiple teams have grounds that can host games. So far, the numbers few although more than they were 3 years ago. Every team having a ground is almost impossible but can clubs share grounds just like it is in football and rugby?

If more teams have home grounds, we can have things like derbies, rallying people in the area to root for the team and other things. As things look though, teams that play at home have an advantage.