JINJA | May 20, 2026 – The intensive Under-19 Girls Training Camp at Jinja Senior Secondary School concluded on Tuesday, May 19, capping off a crucial week of high-performance development.
Following the end of the Sky View Girls’ Schools Cricket Week in Gulu City, 25 of the country’s most promising young talents were selected and brought into camp in Jinja.
The camp served as the primary evaluation ground for the technical bench, who face the tough task of naming the final 14-player squad destined for continental competition later this year.
The Gulu Talent Pipeline
The cohort assembled in Jinja is a direct result of the successful action witnessed in Gulu, where Light Secondary School reclaimed its school’s cricket crown by dethroning the defending champions, Olila High School, in a five-wicket thriller.
The tournament provided a rich scouting ground, featuring a historic maiden century by Light SS star Mercy Tracy Kongai and a dominant individual campaign from St. John’s SS Mukono’s Sonia Nampeera, who secured the MVP award with 21 wickets.
These top-tier performers, along with standout stars from Sacred Heart SS, Jinja SS, Masindi SS, Ndejje SS, Masaka SS, and St. James SS, have been put through their paces during the residential block.
Building Elite Standards
Throughout the week, the coaching staff focused heavily on bridging the gap between school-level play and elite international requirements.
Speaking during the camp, Coach Kakande Ivan emphasised the long-term developmental vision of the training block.
Lots of exciting girls are coming through, and we are keen to see them join the national team setup. We are focusing on getting their basics right as well as their game awareness and cricket knowledge with the aim of producing more rounded cricketers.
Coach Brian Masaba noted that transitioning the players into longer-format match simulations was critical.
The camp has been very good. It’s given us a good opportunity to look at some very promising young players. We’ve mainly focused on game knowledge and cricket awareness, as well as the wider aspects of the game like proper fitness standards, routines, and recovery. The 40-over games are a different challenge for most of them, but it’s been very beneficial towards their overall understanding of game situations.
The Road to Tanzania 2026
The ultimate objective of the intensive Jinja residency is to sharpen the “Baby Victoria Pearls” ahead of the high-stakes ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifiers.
- Venue: Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
- Dates: September 25 – October 5, 2026.
- The Stakes: This tournament is the ultimate gateway. Only the top-ranked team will earn the right to fly Africa’s flag at the 2027 ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by Bangladesh and Nepal.
With the training block officially wrapping up tomorrow, the selection committee will begin trimming the 25-player roster down to the final 14 who will carry Uganda’s World Cup ambitions to Dar-es-Salaam this September.
Selected 25 Girls for U19 Camp in Jinja
- Joan Ilora (Olila H/S)
- Sheila Namagoba (Jinja SS)
- Ritah Amono (Sacred Heart SS)
- Hanifa Noreen (Sacred Heart SS)
- Josephine Icumar (Olila H/S)
- Angel Michelle Alanyo (Sacred Heart SS)
- Jackline Lalam (St James SS)
- Mercy Tracy Kongai (Light SS)
- Judith Nakasagga (St. John’s SS)
- Lucky Agwang (Olila H/S)
- Tino Sarah (Light SS)
- Divine Nyamer Gabriella (Olila H/S)
- Blessing Noeline Apio (Ndejje SS)
- Sonia Nampeera (St. John’s SS)
- Mariam Birabawa (Jinja SS)
- Petra Akidi (Sacred Heart SS)
- Anna Mary Kisa (Jinja SS)
- Irene Mutonyi (St. John’s SS)
- Rashida Tikabula (Jinja SS)
- Hasifa Naula (Masaka SS)
- Nassuna Tahia (Jinja SS)
- Asha Mukite (Jinja SS)
- Joyce Mary Arugo (Light SS)
- Peace Ninsiima (Masindi SS)
- Ritah Alio (Sacred Heart SS)