The future of grassroots basketball received a major boost on Friday, 27th February 2026, as Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira officially opened its brand-new state-of-the-art basketball court in a colourful ceremony that brought together the school community and some of Uganda’s biggest names in basketball.
Held under the inspiring theme, “Dribble Your Way to Greatness,” the historic occasion attracted school administrators and management, staff, pupils, parents, guardians and invited guests, including National Basketball League champions Namuwongo Blazers and JT Jaguars.
The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations was also represented by its Vice President (Administration), Hudson Ssegamwenge, who served as Chief Guest.The event, hosted by Sera Yaweh, a sports show host and producer at NBS Sport, combined celebration with a powerful message about the importance of creating opportunities for children to discover, develop and pursue their talents.
The official opening was marked by a ceremonial ribbon-cutting before the newly launched facility hosted an exhibition match between Namuwongo Blazers and JT Jaguars. The contest generated excitement among the pupils and guests, turning the court into a vibrant showcase of basketball talent and providing young learners with an unforgettable introduction to the level of competition they can aspire to reach.
Sports Is Part of the Education
Speaking at the ceremony, FUBA Vice President (Administration) Hudson Ssegamwenge applauded the leadership of Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools for recognising that quality education goes beyond academic performance.
“We appreciate the management of Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools for this investment. Education is not only about what happens in the classroom. Children need opportunities to develop their talents, and facilities like this give them a safe and professional environment in which they can grow.”
Ssegamwenge said
Ssegamwenge also commended the wider Sir Apollo Kaggwa Schools fraternity for its continued involvement in sports and talent development, including participation in national competitions such as the FUBA Primary Schools League and the Father Grimes National Schools Chess Championship.
“You have demonstrated that academic excellence and talent development can move together. We encourage you to continue giving these children opportunities because you never know where the next great basketball player, footballer or sports personality will come from.”
He further pledged continued support towards the school’s efforts to develop young basketball players and encouraged the children to make full use of the new facility.
“Our responsibility is to support these children so that they can reach their potential. This court should not simply be a beautiful facility; it should become a place where talent is discovered, trained and developed.”
A Facility Built for the Future
For Thunderbolt Sports Academy, the launch represents an important development in the academy’s wider mission of providing young athletes with quality environments in which to train and grow.The academy believes that talent requires more than natural ability.
Young athletes need structured training, quality coaching, meaningful competition, appropriate facilities and an environment that encourages them to learn from both success and failure.The new court provides precisely such an opportunity for aspiring basketball players at Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira and the surrounding community.
Speaking during the ceremony, Headmistress Hajjat Faridah Bukirwa thanked the school management for the infrastructural investment and urged parents to take an active role in supporting their children’s talents.
“We want our children to excel academically, but we also want them to discover what they can do outside the classroom. That is why we have invested in different talent development activities. Every child has a talent, and our responsibility is to help that talent grow.”
She highlighted the school’s diverse talent development programme, which includes basketball, football, chess, music, dance and drama, taekwondo, art and craft, badminton, netball, volleyball and home economics.Bukirwa also encouraged parents to enrol their children in Thunderbolt Sports Academy’s football and basketball programmes.
“Thunderbolt Sports Academy gives our children an opportunity to receive focused training in football and basketball. We encourage parents to support their children by giving them the opportunity to train, compete and develop their abilities.”
From the School Court to the Big Stage
The presence of National Basketball League champions Namuwongo Blazers and JT Jaguars added another dimension to the launch.For the young pupils, the exhibition match was not simply entertainment. It was an opportunity to watch experienced players demonstrate the skills, discipline, teamwork and competitiveness required at the highest level of domestic basketball.
The children also interacted with the players, took photographs and received autographs, creating memorable moments that could inspire some of them to pursue basketball more seriously.Among the players present was Ivan Muhwezi, an experienced Namuwongo Blazers shooting guard and former City Oilers captain. Muhwezi has represented Uganda at international youth level and has been part of championship-winning teams in the National Basketball League.Other notable players included Michael Makiadi, Shakirah Nanvubya, Henry Ssebagala, Moses Mugisha and James Okello.
Okello is one of the familiar names in Ugandan basketball, having been named Uganda Sports Press Association Male Basketball Player of the Year in 2019 and winning multiple National Basketball League championships during his career.For the children watching from the sidelines, seeing accomplished players on their new court offered a simple but powerful message: greatness can begin anywhere.
“Give Children a Chance to Discover Themselves”
The launch also reinforced the importance of exposing young athletes to structured competition.Parents were encouraged to support their children’s participation in the second edition of the Kampala Junior League, a youth competition designed to provide young players with additional opportunities to compete, gain experience and develop their abilities beyond the school environment.
Such initiatives complement the work being done by Thunderbolt Sports Academy, where young players are introduced to structured training designed around their age and stage of development.The academy’s approach goes beyond teaching children how to kick a football or handle a basketball. It seeks to develop discipline, teamwork, confidence, resilience, decision-making and other life skills that can benefit children both on and off the court.
A Court Full of Possibilities
The opening of the Sir Apollo Kaggwa Primary School Kira basketball court is therefore more than an infrastructural milestone. It is an investment in opportunity.It is a place where a young child can take their first basketball shot, where teammates can learn the value of working together, where coaches can identify emerging talent and where dreams can begin to take shape.
The message behind the theme, “Dribble Your Way to Greatness,” captures the essence of the occasion. Every great player starts with the basics. Every champion begins by learning. And every sporting dream needs an environment in which it can grow.
For Thunderbolt Sports Academy, the new court represents exactly that, an opportunity to bring quality basketball closer to young people and to continue building a strong foundation for the next generation of Ugandan athletes.
As the final whistle sounded on the exhibition game and the pupils gathered around their sporting heroes, one thing was clear: the court had officially opened, but its most important chapter was only beginning.