Made in Ghetto: Namuwongo Blazers, A Proud Basketball Club Changing Fortunes and with an A-List Category Fans Cheering

A ghetto-laden club Namuwongo Blazers aka Namblazers from the heavily loaded ghetto of Namuwongo will shock you with an A-list of supporters selflessly and without pride, cheering the team up throughout every game they have taken to the courts.

Namuwongo Blazers, which was born on the Basketball Court at the African Gospel Church in Kisugu, has on their fans` list, such devotees like the Chief Justice A.C. Owiny-Dollo, International Hospital Kampala (IHK) founder and stake holder Dr. Ian Clarke, who is also the Clarke International University owner, Rugby Cranes 15’s and 7’s aside player and captain Phillip Wokorach, and, name this long list.

For most of them, like the Uganda’s Chief Justice, their drivers to associate with this club are that the team has continued to engage the youth through the sport most of whom have become professionals. During the club’s courtesy call on one of their elite fans, CJ Dollo-Owinyi, in their drive to mobilize support and funding, the CJ hailed the club owners for raising Namuwongo Blazers up to the level of a top Basketball team in the country.

Dr. Ian Clerke appreciates the Team’s Jersey in his honour

He promised to support the team where he said; “because it is engaging the youth in sports and enabling some of them to become professionals.” The team had paid a visit to the CJ at his official residence in Kisugu. His Lordship is familiar with Namuwongo Blazers, which was born on the Basketball Court at the African Gospel Church in Kisugu which is right next to the private residence of the Chief Justice. The team had visited to say, “Ladit CJ Wapwoyo Matek! (Lordship CJ thank you very much)

Another courtesy call was to Dr. Ian Clarke at his office at the Clarke International University. Dr. Ian, an Irish national, who has lived in Uganda for close to 34 years, adopting the Kiganda culture name Busuulwa, and who has contributed immensely to the Namuwongo Community before and during his time as LC 3 Chairperson, will forever be remembered.

Through his tenure, he improved the road network, built drainage, rubbish management and partnered with Hands for Hope in making Namuwongo a better place. In Namuwongo Blazers, Dr. Ian finds a partner who would continue his community work of helping change the ghetto communities in Uganda.

He commends the team for the great job, their engagement in the community and promises to support the team in any community-based activities. On their list, has, until his demise late last year, Hajji Musa Ssewava, the director of Sir Apollo Schools. The deceased had been part of the Blazers family.

The Team That Is: Namuwongo Blazers at it

Club CEO Hajji Zinda Farook, son to the late Ssewava and his long association to the club was evident of the family’s heart for the Blazers. At the end of the season 2022, where they finished runner’s up behind City Oilers, the teams ultimate prize was Uganda shillings 2,500,000 Million from league sponsors Tusker lite. Nonetheless, their biggest prize of the season was earning themselves the respect with such a large following of a fan base that is today characterized by the elites, the socialites, the media, corporates among others.

It was such beautiful story of a club to tell as one of their players Ariel Okall put; “Nobody goes to the finals to lose; things didn’t go our way. We will be back again; we win some and lose some. Picked up great lessons from the failure. Thank you Namuwongo great fan base, teammates and technical staff for allowing me to be part of this beautiful story. All love,” this excited to the moon, player summed up a season full of dreams.