When Uganda earned ICC status after regional victory
Back row: Tendo Mbazzi, Frank Nsubuga, Michael Grace Ndiko, Joel Olweny, Henry Osinde, Henry Kato, Guy Kimbowa Lutaaya, David Meya, Henry Ssimbwa and Nehal Bibodi
Front row: Benjamin Musoke, Justine Ligyalingi, Henry Okecho, William Kamanyi and Richard Mwami. COURTESY PHOTO
What you need to know:
CRICKET. Uganda were an unknown quantity before 1998, but the Schools Development Programme revamped the face of the game and yielded international recognition.
Kampala. The first major international engagement for the senior national team was the East and Central African Cricket Quadrangular of 1966. The Uganda team was selected from the five-clubs tournaments (Pentangulars) which climaxed the seasons and involved the Indian, Goan, White, Muslim and African clubs.
Uganda hosted the ECACC in 1975 and out of this Sam Walusimbi and John Nagenda were selected to play for the East and Central African team in the World Cup. The years of turmoil that followed made it very difficult for Uganda to regularly participate in this tournament, but thanks to individual efforts, Uganda persisted.
Climbing the ranks
After 25 years, Uganda won this tournament again in 1991, and thereafter started to dominate it. With the inauguration of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) in 1996, Uganda started to regularly feature in the ACA Cup, a successor to the Zone VI tournament. The nation’s best performance in the ACA Cup came in 2004 when Uganda finished second behind Namibia.
But the big break had come much earlier in 1998, when Uganda hosted the ECACC and won it.
The ACA Assembly was held in Kampala that year and because of Uganda’s success and the overwhelming numbers that they had seen take part in the grassroot Mini Cricket Festival, they unanimously voted and seconded that Uganda become an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council.
Below, we look at the men who formed that region-conquering side.
Tendo Mbazzi: Wanderers’ star player already had a big reputation in the region then, having been a member of the combined East and Central Africa Cricket Team that competed in the 1997 Carlsberg ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Currently, Mbazzi is an administrator for Wanderers and also a national team selector.
Frank Nsubuga: Still a teenager, Nsubuga was looked at as someone who could provide in-roads when Uganda needed a breakthrough. He delivered with his spinners and was the darling of many. To-date Franco plays and although he remains a core member of the team, he is not as athletic as then. He is the Tornado skipper and coach of the national women’s team – the Lady Cricket Cranes.
Michael Ndiko: Nicknamed ‘Power Mike’ because of his physique, Ndiko made up for what he didn’t have in style with power. He delighted many with his powerful straight drives and over-the-top cut shots in the power-play overs whenever he opened the batting. Currently, he is the Cricket Cranes assistant coach/trainer.
Joel Olweny: He was an understudy of senior batsmen David Meya and Guy Kimbowa Lutaaya. But he earned his own place on the side because of his all-round abilities because he could keep wickets, bowl both medium and spin, and also bat at any number. Olweny is currently settled in Canada. He plays in the Toronto League and also works as a factory supervisor in Ontario.
Henry Osinde: This man was a bowling machine. His erratic nature with the new ball cost him his place in the previous years. But whenever he made the grade, he always made it count with early scalps. Osinde has now played in two World Cups for his new nation, Canada. He is married to a Mexican and they have two children. He also works as a TV cricket pundit across North America and the Caribbean.
Henry Kato: Fittingly nicknamed ‘Rasta Man’ because of his dreadlocked hair then, Kato was one of the most feared pacemen. He always got the bounce on the most unlikely of surfaces and could throw in from the boundary at rocket speed. Unfortunately Rasta Man washes cars at Lugogo for a living and also survives on cash handouts from well-wishers.
Guy Kimbowa Lutaaya: The only man to budgeon two double centuries in the history of Uganda cricket was one rare talent with a cricket brain second to none. Son to veteran administrator Abbey Kit Lutaaya, Guy attended Plascon Cricket Academy in Pretoria and was the most technically gifted player in the Ugandan ranks. He batted at No.3 and bowled first change. Unfortunately he didn’t last long on the international scene. He disappeared to the US to earn a better living and joined Stanbic Bank on return.
David Meya: Nicknamed ‘Solid’, Meya was equally solid in defence. He was never one to be bogged down by bowlers. He was a sure bet for a boundary whenever on the crease. Today, Meya is a doctor by profession.
Henry Ssimbwa: He was the captain of Nile Cricket Club then and made it to the national team against all odds. Ssimbwa was a free-will player – never shy to play any of his strokes whatever the game situation and always willing to bowl an extra yard of pace. He was a very dangerous exponent. But he ran off to the U.K to earn a better living and when he returned, he was past his sell-by date. A businessman now, Ssimbwa always finds time to return home, but only for holidays.
Nehal Bibodi: Talked about as the best batsman Uganda has ever produced, Bibodi has the numbers to back up his reputation. A stylish wristy player that got Uganda off to flying starts always, the veteran ace plays on today, especially at night cricket tournaments. But he is no longer as fruitful as then. He primarily deals in timber.
Benjamin Musoke: ‘Benzo’ was a joy to watch. From fielding in the covers like legendary South Africa Jonty Rhodes, Musoke seemed to have a magic wand. Everything he touched during that tournament turned into gold. He is a clearing and forwarding agent today with his own firm. He is also a national team selector.
Henry Okecho: Captain Fantastic. A seasoned player, Okecho was the man that called the shots as Uganda rallied to victory. He led a strong united team that delivered on all fronts. Currently, Okecho is the coach of the U-19 boys’ team and UCA Development Manager.
Richard Mwami: The current UCA chairman was the Man of Series as Uganda beat the rain and four other nations to triumph at the annual meet. He silenced several Doubting Thomases, who always thought that his technique couldn’t garner runs. Mwami is also the proprietor of Ezee Money.
William Kamanyi: Nicknamed ‘Coach Jjajja’, Kamanyi’s vast cricketing knowledge and experience plus his disciplinarian approach was always going make him the sole candidate for the coach’s job. Today, he lectures in the departments of Sports Science at Makerere and Kyambogo University. The former national high jump record holder still pulls a few strings in cricket.
Justine Ligyalingi: He was the team manager of the victorious 1998 East and Central Africa Cricket Conference (ECACC) Quadrangular hosted by Uganda. Currently, Ligyalingi is the CEO of UCA.
