Nassanga: From village court to African queen

After years of silver medals and relentless shooting practice, Shadia Nassanga finally found gold in Nairobi, Kenya —finishing the Africa Netball Championship as Uganda’s MVP, Best Shooter and leading scorer, writes FELIX EUPAL.

After an exhausting 18- hour bus journey from Nairobi, Shadia Nassanga was curled up in bed at her Namugona home on Monday (September 28) afternoon, recovering from a tournament that finally delivered the medal she had chased for years.

The reigning African netball champion sounded sleepy on the phone, but mention the championship and her voice came alive.

“I had a discussion with my teammates and we talked about being champions and nothing else,” she said.

On Saturday (September 26) evening at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, the She Cranes fulfilled that ambition, defeating South Africa 56-53 to win the African Netball Championship. Nassanga was at the centre of Uganda’s success.

The lethal shooter was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Shooter, while finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with an average of 32.2 goals per game. The championship also served as a World Cup qualifier, securing Uganda’s place on the global stage. For Nassanga, the gold medal was deeply personal.

“I had won so many silver medals from high school and this was the ultimate chance to win African gold after always coming so close,” she said.

The achievement was built on preparation. The National Council of Sports (NCS) facilitated a 12-day residential camp at Allen VR Staleny School in Nakilebe, where coach Rashid Mubiru and assistant Ruth Meeme worked on defensive organisation, midcourt adjustments and team cohesion.

“We worked on our defence and mid-court adjustments. Going by how we prepared, it was clear we were favourites and we lived up to the billing,” Nassanga said.

Uganda also had to cope with the absence of star shooter Mary Nuba, who remained in England with her new employers. Christine Namulumba stepped up at goal shooter, while Sheila Nabanja and Evelyn Ayitesi impressed in defence.

But Nassanga’s accuracy remained a major weapon throughout the tournament. However, her journey to African glory began far away from the bright lights of Kasarani. As a young girl, Nassanga followed her sister, Hajara Ssegujja, to a village netball court simply because she was bored. She knew little about the sport until she picked up a ball.

Soon, she was returning to the court alone, shooting until sunset. Coaches noticed her imposing frame and natural accuracy, and by Primary Seven she had become one of Wakiso’s promising young players. Richard Ssentongo, then at Exodus Secondary School, recruited her and helped mould her game.

“The coach decided I should focus on goal attack and shooting. It needed less movement but perfect accuracy. I spent most of my time just shooting,” she recalled.

Ssentongo repeatedly told her she would one day play for Uganda. That prediction became reality. Netball eventually paid her school fees and took her to Victoria University, where she graduated with an Honours degree in Business Administration on a sports scholarship.

Her sporting ability later extended to basketball. In 2024, JKL Lady Dolphins manager Fredricks ‘Freedom’ Owora spotted her at a basketball game and signed her after one training session, despite her limited knowledge of the sport.

She adapted quickly, helping JKL win the Fuba Women’s National Basketball League title in 2024 and defend it in 2025. In December 2025, she added another milestone, scoring 38 goals as KCCA Netball Club beat Prisons 44-41 at Hamz Stadium, Nakivubo, to win their first league title in more than 40 years.

But the African crown stands apart.

“We played well as a unit, believed and never got our eyes off the prize. Our team chemistry also helped a lot,” she said.

Now the target shifts to the Spar Diamond Challenge in South Africa, before the bigger challenge of the Netball World Cup. For the girl who once wandered onto a village court out of curiosity, the dream has finally become reality. Nassanga is no longer chasing African gold. She is wearing it.

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