Glasgow, Scotland – Uganda’s women’s national basketball team, the Gazelles, etched their names into the country’s sporting history with a landmark silver-medal finish in the 3×3 basketball event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. Making their debut at the Commonwealth Games, the Gazelles delivered an impressive campaign that culminated in a historic podium finish, showcasing Uganda’s growing presence and potential in international basketball.
The team’s remarkable run reached its decisive stage with a commanding 21–9 victory over New Zealand in the semifinals. The result secured Uganda a historic medal before the team faced tournament favorites Australia in the gold-medal contest. The final presented a formidable challenge against an Australian side featuring Amy Atwell, Lara McSpadden and Marena Whittle. Uganda had previously faced Australia in the group stage, suffering a 21–9 defeat. However, the Gazelles returned to the court with renewed determination, producing a much stronger performance and competing with resilience against their physically imposing opponents before eventually losing 21–11.
Melisa Akullu led Uganda’s scoring in the final with seven points, while Jamila Nansikombi added three and Jane Asinde contributed one. Although Perus Nyamwenge did not score in the final, her defensive work rate and contributions throughout the earlier rounds were instrumental in Uganda’s historic journey to the podium. The silver medal represents far more than a sporting achievement. For Uganda, it is a significant expression of sports diplomacy, providing an opportunity to project the country’s identity, talent and values to an international audience.
International sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games bring together nations beyond the traditional spaces of diplomacy. Through competition, athletes foster mutual respect and provide countries with a platform to strengthen their international visibility. The Gazelles’ achievement demonstrates the potential of the country’s young sporting talent and reinforces the value of investing in sports as an avenue for youth empowerment, national pride and international engagement. Their performance can also inspire greater partnerships in basketball development, coaching, sports infrastructure, youth programmes and talent development.
The achievement further strengthens Uganda’s sporting profile within the Commonwealth and across Africa, while demonstrating that sporting excellence can complement the country’s broader diplomatic and economic engagement. The Gazelles’ historic podium finish therefore marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ugandan women’s basketball. Their silver medal in Glasgow raised Uganda’s flag high, inspired a new generation of athletes and demonstrated the power of sport to tell Uganda’s story to the world.
