Fresh from securing qualification for the 2026 CAVB African Nations Championship, Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes captain Catherine Ainembabazi has called for early and thorough preparations as the team seeks to make an impact on the continental stage.
Uganda sealed their place at the African Championship after emerging victorious at the CAVB Zone V Nations Championship Qualifiers held in Kampala last week.
The Lady Cranes defeated Burundi and South Sudan to finish top of the standings and earn a ticket to the continental showpiece that will be staged in Nairobi, Kenya, from August 22 to September 5.
The qualification marked an encouraging return to international competition for Uganda, but Ainembabazi believes the real test still lies ahead.
The African Championship will feature some of the continent’s strongest volleyball nations, including traditional rivals Kenya, Egypt and Rwanda, who had already secured qualification and therefore did not participate in the Kampala qualifiers.
For Ainembabazi, Uganda’s performance in Nairobi will largely depend on how quickly the team can regroup and prepare.
‘I really have to thank our coaches for what they did for us. We had enough training time and what we worked for, we were able to present it in the qualifiers,’ Ainembabazi told Daily Monitor.
The experienced outside hitter credited the technical bench for helping the team build cohesion in a relatively short period and believes that the same approach will be crucial ahead of the continental championship.
‘If we come in early for training, with the team we have, we just need enough time to train together. If we have enough time to train, I am sure we shall do well in the African Championship,’ she added.
Tougher challenge awaits
While Uganda comfortably negotiated the qualifiers, Nairobi promises a significantly sterner examination.
The Lady Cranes will come up against some of Africa’s best teams, some of whom have regularly featured at continental championships, World Championships and Olympic qualification tournaments.
The gap between the Zone V qualifiers and the African Championship is considerable, and Uganda will need to improve in several areas to come out on top against much tougher and elite opposition.
However, the signs from Kampala were encouraging. The team showed flashes of quality, discipline and resilience throughout the tournament, qualities that will be vital if Uganda is to challenge more established volleyball nations.
A new generation steps forward
The qualifiers also highlighted a changing of the guard within the national team setup.
Head coach Protus Soita entrusted a youthful squad that blended experience with emerging talent.
Only a handful of players had previously represented the senior national team, with Ainembabazi joined by Joan Tushemereirwe, Scovia Alungat, Hadijah Acelun and Moreen Mwamula among the experienced core.
Around them, a new generation of players seized the opportunity to announce themselves on the international stage.
Claire Najjuko, Ketty Aluka, Katreena Odermatt, Lydia Asimo, Jemmima Lamaro and Nakitto all delivered impressive performances during the qualifiers, underlining the depth of talent available to Uganda volleyball.
Their emergence offers hope for the future and provides the coaching staff with a broader pool of players to select from ahead of the African Championship.
Selection competition
Despite the success in Kampala, the squad that travels to Nairobi may not be identical to the one that won the qualifiers.
Soita has indicated that the technical team is considering strengthening the squad with a number of experienced players who were unavailable for the qualifiers.
Such additions could provide valuable leadership and international experience as Uganda prepares to face stronger opposition.
Eunice Amuron, Sharon Amito, Agnes Akanyo, Summayah Ndagire, Jennifer Alungat and Oliver Achan all missed out on the tournament with various reasons but have a shot at making the team that will go to Nairobi.
Soita, however, maintains that the younger players who impressed in Kampala have earned the right to compete for places in the final squad.
That healthy competition for selection is expected to raise standards within the team as preparations gather momentum.
For now, qualification has provided a welcome boost for Uganda women’s volleyball.
Yet both the players and coaching staff understand that reaching Nairobi is only the first step.
The coming weeks will be crucial as the Lady Cranes seek to transform regional success into a competitive showing on the continental stage.
With a promising blend of youth and experience, and with early preparations now identified as the priority, Uganda will head to Nairobi hopeful of proving they belong among Africa’s volleyball elite.
CAVB Zone V Nations Championship Qualifiers
Uganda Lady Volleyball Cranes
Game played: Two
Record: 2-0