When the FUBA Calendar for the year 2025/2026 came out, one of the things that was seen was that the following season would be starting earlier the usual. The calendar indicated that the NBL season would be starting in November 2026 but it looks like that may not happen. In this article, we shall try to dissect why that is the case.

Genesis

In 2023, the Namuwongo Blazers pulled out of the playoffs after the City Oilers had been selected to represent Uganda at the Basketball Africa League (BAL). FUBA then said that they would align the NBL season so that the NBL would end in time for Uganda to have a champion before the Road to BAL starts. In 2024, the season ended early and the champion was ready in time for the BAL.

Fast forward to the 2025 season, the season started late and once again it was 2023 all over again. However, this time around, the Namuwongo Blazers were selected as the team to represent Uganda at the Road to BAL.

FUBA again promised to align the NBL season so that by the time the Road to BAL comes around, we already have a champion. This seemed to be going according to plan and the first round and the second round for the 2026 NBL season were on course. The second round was played in about 50 days which showed the speed at which the events were moving.

However, what seemed to have been moving very well was halted all of a sudden. The playoffs had been scheduled to tip-off on 17th June but they were postponed to July 10th. To make matters worse, after the quarterfinals (18th July), the league will once again halt for over a month and will return on 21st August. This now begs the question; will the 2026/2027 season start in November?

Plans and Challenges

In 2025, FUBA made a decision to have this season played fast so that the new season could start in November 2026. The aim was to ultimately have the league format change, to starting in September/October and ending around May/June with the latest being July. The reasons for this was to make sure that Uganda has a champion to represent at the BAL in time and to have players available for National team duties which usually happen between June and September.

However, this year, things look to be difficult. The league was on course to finish in time, as planned, but with these double halts, there is a likelihood of it not happening as planned. Why that is the case is that, teams, more so those in the playoffs, are paying players’ salaries and allowances currently despite not having any action.

The money spent during this period is too much and could have been used for something else or even preparation for the next season. However, teams have now been forced to spend way more than they had planned.

Secondly, the NBL is set to finish latest 27th September. Between this date and say mid-November, there will be about 50 days. Would that time be enough for teams to prepare for the new season? When you talk new season, you are talking about having financial resources to start, recruitment, training and more. Can teams have all that available in such a short period more so when the 2026 season was extended and ended very late?

When asked about the possibility of starting the NBL Season in November, the FUBA General Secretary, Mr Hudson Ssegamwenge said, “It’s possible and we are working towards that.”

FUBA has had multiple plans which have not come to fruition in the past. Will this be one of those? We await to see whether the new season will start in November or not.

The NBL will return on 10th July with the playoffs but for now, the FUBA Division One and Two leagues are ongoing. Games for Division One will mainly be at Hamz Stadium Nakivubo while some few games shall be at the KIU Court in Kansanga.

Division Two action will be happening at the Nakasero Primary School court on weekends.