Ndejje, Mbogo defend their titles as State House roar success at the National Badminton League business end

2024 National Badminton League Champions 

• Super League – Ndejje University
• Corporate League – State House
• Secondary Schools – Mbogo High School (Girls) Kinaawa -Kawempe (Boys)
• Primary School- Ebenezer Primary School

On Saturday 7th December 2024, the Uganda Badminton League second edition that shuttled off in April came to a close at the Mbogo High School in Kawempe.

There were two trophies up for grabs with Ndejje University clinching the Super League Category and State House Badminton the Corporate Category.

The Final was played on a basis of the best three (3) out of Five (5) norm which involves categories Men Singles (MS), Women Singles (WS), Mens Doubles (MD), Women Doubles (WD) and Mixed Doubles (XD) in that respective order.

Therefore team had to win only three games to secure a trophy which was accompanied with some cash prize money something that both the winners and runners up in the Super League were entitled to this season.

Despite the huge quality and experience, it wasn’t as straight forward for Ndejje as one would imagine but they their Star top seed Muzafaru Lubega shuttled off the Final so well going on to beat Mbogo’s Oduka Akbal 2-0 in the Men’s singles.

He was followed by Former Mbogo High School student now Ndejje player Husina Kobugabe who also beat her opponent Sharifa Mbabazi 2-0 in the Women Singles.

With the tie at 2-0 in favour of Ndejje, Mbogo duo Tendo Kibirige and Oduka Akbal pulled on back beating Eric Ofoyuru and Reagan Nsubuga in the Men Doubles to make 2-1.

L-R: Oduka Akbal and Tendo Kibirige.

To seal it off for the defending Champions was Natasha Rajab and Kobugabe who managed to beat Mbogo duo Tracy Naluwooza and Nazifah Nakiyemba for a 3-2 victory.

Tracy Naluwooza in action.

However much it may have looked obvious on paper both sides went toe to toe most especially in the Women Doubles where Nalwooza and Nakiyemba came with a strategy to target Rajab all game but Kobugabe’s experience was so vital despite going into an additional decisive set.

This meant that Ndejje is the only side to have won this League since it’s inception having defended it with a 3-1 result.

Squads.

Ndejje University

Muzafaru Lubega (MS), Husina Kobugabe (WS), Eric Ofoyuru (MD), Reagan Nsubuga (MD), Natasha Rajab (WD), Husina Kobugabe (WD), Muzafaru Lubega (XD), Natasha Rajab (XD)

Mbogo High School

Oduka Akbal (MS | MD), Mbabazi Sharifa (WS), Kibirige Tendo (MS), Naluwooza Tracy (WD), Nakiyemba Nazifah (WD)

On the Corporates side, defending Champion CFK Badminton Club didn’t appear but still it wasn’t a walk in the park for last year’s third runners up State House badminton Club (S.H).

State House team.

Despite them winning the title after beating Equity Bank 3-1 who came as under dogs just like Mbogo High and fought till the last.

With high hopes that Mark Ssekyodwa and Adam Mubiru were going to seal it for S.H in the the third game after both Ssekyodwa and Meble Namakoye had won their singles, they were suprised by Equity’s Lule Ronald and Niwagaba Jordan.

But Namakoye was the name State House had to thank after her huge contribution to seal it off in the Women Doubles where she teamed up with UBA President Annet Nakamya who in later stages looked tired against a resilient Equity duo of Apio Betty and Gorreti Nakayiwa.

Squads

State House

Mark Ssekyodwa (MS | MD), Mable Namakoye (WD, Adam mubiru (MD) and Annet Nakamya (WD)

Equity Bank

Niwagaba Jordan (MS)| (MD), Nakayiwa Gorreti (WS), Lule ronald (MD), Apio Betty (WD), Nakayiwa Gorreti (WD)

In the road to Final, with both categories being played in League format only four made it out of their respective Categories.

Ndejje University, Mbogo High, CFK Badminton and Victoria University making it out the Super League format to semifinals.

Mbogo High defeating Victoria University to make the finals whereas Ndejje managed to get a walk over straight to final.

While on the other side in Corporates category State House edged Mbogo High whereas Equity just walked straight into the final since CFK didn’t make it to the venue.

In the schools Category, Mbogo High School were crowned Secondary school girls Champions just like Kinaawa Schools- Kawempe branch for the boys.

Mbogo High School with their League trophy.

Kinaawa High School- Kawempe with their League trophy.

This was Mbogo high school’s second consecutive trophy in two editions while Kinaawa followed into the footsteps of Kibuli ss who won the boys’ category in the first edition.

For Ebenezer Primary School, they came out of the League as champions of the primary Category conquering St Catherine and Green Valley Primary Schools.

Ebenzer Primary School.

This second edition attracted a total of 45 teams Super League (8), Corporate League (7), Secondary Schools (25) [Boys 13 | girls 12], Primary Schools (5).

Over roll, Mbogo High come out big, defending their Girls Secondary Schools title and reaching two finals (boys – Secondary Schools and Super League Finals).

The third Edition is set to return next year in March 2025.