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Ugandan universities are gearing up for the highly anticipated 5th edition of the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) 3x3 Challenge, aiming to maintain their impressive track record in the competition and secure a spot at the 2023 FISU 3x3 University World Cup.
Ugandan universities are gearing up for the highly anticipated 5th edition of the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) 3x3 Challenge, aiming to maintain their impressive track record in the competition and secure a spot at the 2023 FISU 3x3 University World Cup.
The prestigious University of Johannesburg will host the competition from June 22 to 25, 2023, where universities from across the continent will battle it out to represent Africa on the global stage.
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Ugandan universities have dominated the FASU 3x3 Challenge since its inauguration in 2015.
According to Sam Lukaire, sports administrator at Uganda Christian University (UCU), the consistent exposure to high-level competition in Uganda has given them an advantage in these tournaments.
"Competing in the top flight of basketball has helped various universities to stay at such a high level that,” Lukayile said.
“When these tournaments come around, they have a slight advantage over everyone else,” he added.
In the inaugural edition held in Kampala in 2015, Ndejje University and Uganda Christian University emerged as champions in both the men's and women's categories, setting the stage for their future successes.
The following year, Makerere University claimed victory in the women's category during the 2016 games in South Africa, while their male counterparts secured a second-place finish, earning qualification for the subsequent Xiamen World University Games.
Peninah Kabenge, the principal sports tutor at Makerere University, attributes the success of Ugandan universities to their early adoption of the 3x3 sport compared to their counterparts on the continent.
"Our universities embraced the 3x3 sport much faster than others on the continent who still played basketball, and it has helped us gain an advantage," Kabenge emphasized.
The 2017 FASU 3x3 Challenge, held in Nairobi, Kenya, showcased the prowess of Makerere University (men) and Uganda Christian University (women).
These institutions excelled again, finishing second and third overall, solidifying Uganda's reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the competition.
Uganda Christian University has emerged as the dominant force in recent years, clinching back-to-back victories in the men's and women's divisions during the 2019 and 2021 editions.
Now, they aim for a historic three-peat and a chance to secure their ticket to the forthcoming world event.
Ugandan universities eagerly await the opportunity to represent Africa on the global stage again.
FISU, the governing body of world university sport, is currently in discussions with the Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC) and the Saudi Arabian University Sports Federation to determine the location for the 2023 FISU 3x3 University World Cup.
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