St. Joseph’s Vocational School Mbarara’s (JOVOC) Open Basketball Tournament has grown from a regional schools competition into a nationally recognized platform for talent identification and development, reflecting rising participation and improving standards in Uganda’s secondary school basketball.
The 13th edition of the tournament is scheduled for March 7, 2026, in Mbarara City, with organizers expecting more than 40 boys’ and girls’ teams from across the country.
Launched in 2013 as a Western Region Basketball Championship, the tournament aimed to promote basketball among secondary schools in western Uganda, raise the quality of play to enable regional schools to compete favorably with central Uganda institutions, and nurture talent capable of feeding the national team and the National Basketball League.
Over the years, participation has expanded beyond western Uganda, drawing schools from central and other regions.
Institutions such as Elite High School Entebbe, Ndejje Secondary School, Exodus College Wakiso, St. Noa Girls Secondary School Zana, Bethel Covenant College and Seroma Christian High School have taken part, highlighting the tournament’s national reach.
Event organizer Alex Seminy Byamukama said the growth demonstrates that the competition has achieved its founding objectives.
“When we started in 2013, the aim was to develop basketball in western Uganda and raise standards so our schools could compete favorably with those in the central region. Today, teams from across the country participate, which shows the progress we have made,” Byamukama said.
He noted that the tournament is now regarded as one of Uganda’s largest secondary school basketball competitions after the national schools championship and continues to attract attention from basketball authorities and corporate sponsors.
Byamukama said sponsorship support has played a key role in sustaining the event and expanding opportunities for young athletes.
“The tournament continues to grow in strength and numbers because of the support we receive and the confidence teams have in our organization. This year we expect over 40 teams from across Uganda,” he said.
Organizers say the tournament has also contributed to the development of elite talent, with several former participants progressing to the National Basketball League, national team and professional opportunities abroad.
Notable alumni include Khaman Maluach, who featured in the 2023 edition and now plays in the National Basketball Association, as well as Sam Kalwanyi, a former City Oilers guard who later played college basketball in the United States, and Peter Obleng, a player for the Namuwongo Blazers and member of the national team.
Organizers say the competition plays a critical role in talent identification and preparation for national qualifiers and championships.
“We hope to develop more young talent and prepare them for the forthcoming qualifiers and national championship. We are ready in terms of facilities, officials and welfare, and each participating school will receive a basketball and a set of uniforms from our sponsors,” Byamukama added.
Sports stakeholders note that regional tournaments like the JOVOC Open are helping decentralize basketball development by providing competitive platforms for athletes outside Kampala while strengthening grassroots sports structures.
With participation rising and national visibility increasing, organizers say the focus remains on maintaining high organizational standards and strengthening basketball development in western Uganda and across the country.
