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FINAL RESULT
Bujjagali Rafters vs Itanda Kayakers
Toss: Bujjagali Rafters won the toss and elected to bat
Bujjagali Rafters: 171/6 in 20 overs
Itanda Kayakers: 172/5 in 17.5 overs
Result: Itanda Kayakers won by 5 wickets
The conclusion of the Waterfalls Men’s T20 Elite League at Lugogo Cricket Oval last Saturday marked more than the crowning of Itanda Kayakers as champions.
It represented the successful completion of Cricket Uganda’s first major activity of the year and the formal start of a packed 2026 calendar built around player development, talent identification, and high-performance preparation.
As the Elite League wrapped up across both the men’s and women’s competitions, it laid a strong foundation for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead on the regional and global stage.
For Cricket Uganda, the Elite League was never just about silverware. It was about building a pathway.
About pressure, performance, and identifying who is ready for the next level.
Over intense days of high-quality cricket, the men’s and women’s Elite League tournaments brought together senior national team players, emerging prospects, and Under-19 talents in a deliberately high-performance environment designed to reveal character as much as skill.
As the curtain fell on the competition, Head of High-Performance Richard Okia reflected on its wider impact with optimism.
He described the Elite League as a critical talent identification tool, giving the High-Performance and selection teams a clear, reliable base from which to plan for the year ahead.
We are pleased to conclude an intense competition focused on identifying talent
Okia noted
This initiative gives us a broad pool of players to select from. Our primary objective was talent identification, and from a High-Performance perspective, this is a significant step in the right direction
That direction is busy and demanding.
In 2026, Uganda will contest two ICC Under-19 World Cup qualifiers the men in August and the women in October.
The senior men’s team faces a regional T20 qualifier and a crucial 50-over Challenge League B leg, a direct pathway toward ODI status and World Cup qualification.
For the women, the focus remains on climbing global rankings with ODI cricket firmly in sight.
The Elite League now serves as a compass, guiding where investment, coaching focus, and individual development plans should be placed.
On the field, the Men’s Elite League final delivered a fitting climax.
Bujjagali Rafters posted a competitive 171 for 6, anchored by Gerald Olipa’s polished 54 off 35 balls, while Kenneth Ogenrwot led Itanda’s bowling with figures of 3 for 29.
In reply, Itanda Kayakers showed maturity and composure, with Simon Ssesazi producing a match-winning unbeaten 76 off 52 balls to steer his side to a five-wicket victory with more than two overs to spare.
Beyond the result, the bigger win was clarity.
The Elite League sharpened focus for selectors, coaches, and players alike, reinforcing Cricket Uganda’s commitment to structured player development and a sustainable high-performance pipeline.
From Lugogo to the international stage, the journey has begun — and 2026 promises to be a defining year.
Attention now turns to intense preparation across all levels.
The senior teams enter a heavy training phase, the women set their sights on the Women’s Day Cup, the men travel to Namibia next month for the Castle Lite Series, and the Under-19s move into regional qualifiers.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Player Of Match for the Final– Simon Ssesazi (Itanda)
Promising Player– Felix Ochan (Karuma)
Best Batter– Robinson Obuya (Bujjagali)
Best Bowler– Joseph Baguma (Bujjagali)
Most Valuable Player– Gerald Olipa (Bujjagali)
L-R Baguma, Ochan, Ssesazi, Obuya, Olipa
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