The Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA) has entered an unprecedented partnership with betpawa that will see the betting company inject a staggering Sh2.6 billion over three years into the nation’s senior national teams.
This historic agreement marks the first-ever sponsorship deal for the Ugandan basketball national teams since FUBA’s inception and affiliation with the National Council of Sports in 1962.
The partnership arrives on the heels of remarkable international successes by both the Silverbacks (Men) and Gazelles (Women), with the Gazelles securing a commendable seventh-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Women’s Afrobasket and the Silverbacks also achieving their best-ever sixth-place finish at the 2021 Afrobasket in Kigali.
“We have invested a lot of money in Ugandan Sports and we are here because there is talent in Uganda,” said Ntudi Mouyelo, the Chief Commercial Officer of betPawa. “We want to dream together with the youths and walk the journey with us.”
Under this groundbreaking collaboration, betPawa will cover a myriad of expenses including team training, travel, accommodation for tournaments, medical insurance, and supplements.
Furthermore, players will receive UGX 150,000 per match for every victory through the Locker Room Bonus initiative, providing additional motivation and support.
FUBA CEO Marcus Kwikiriza hailed the partnership, whose negotiations started last year, as a game-changer, affirming the Federation’s commitment to maximizing the investment.
State Minister for Sports, Hon Peter Ogwang, emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector in advancing sports, commending FUBA for securing betpawa as the new sponsor.
“The challenge of sports in our country can only be solved by the partners we have here,” started Peter Ogwang, the State Minister for Sports. “And that’s why I want to thank the management of FUBA for identifying betpawa as the new sponsor.”
National team captains Jimmy Enabu (Silverbacks) and Flavia Oketcho (Gazelles) expressed gratitude for the timely boost, highlighting the significance of proper preparations and the added motivation of the locker room bonus.
