Basketball in Africa

THE annual Makerere Open basketball tournament starts today at the Makerere University pool and main ground courts. The Open, which will be played over the weekend, is the final pre-season basketball tournament before the 2008 season starts on first April.

The tournament will undoubtedly be overshadowed by news of Sadolin Power's Wilbrod Oketcho being shot Wednesday night at his residence by robbers.

Meanwhile, qualifiers for the National Secondary Schools Basketball Championship also start this weekend.

The nationwide competition kickoffs Saturday in Kampala with games at Kibuli, Crane High, Emma High and Lubiri secondary schools.