Basketball in Africa

By Charles Mutebi and Julius Senyimba

Today, FUBA League
Men’s div 1: Rhino v Warriors
Women: KCC v A1

FUBA league basketball returns to centre court today at YMCA with men’s division leaders Kyambogo taking on Charging Rhino and the KCC Leopards battling A1 Challenge in the ladies league.
However, fans will be glad to know that something potentially more monumental has just happened off-court.

Proline have jumped into local basketball. Previously known as an exclusively football company through their Uganda Super League club Proline and Proline football Academy, the organisation have now spread their tentacles into the burgeoning world of local hoops. And they have taken the shortest way in, buying out men’s top-division side Heaters in a deal worth sh35m.
“Our aim as Proline is always to develop the sporting talent and help young people improve their lives,” said Proline boss Mujib Kasule during the official announcement of the deal at Lugogo.
“You have always known Proline as a football company but we are expanding into other sports like basketball. Other big (European) football clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona have teams in basketball, handball and volleyball.”

Heaters will officially become the Proline Heaters next season but that is just a slight formality.

Kasule revealed plans to develop a basketball academy, the first of its kind in Uganda, will start in December.