In a dramatic shift of leadership, Coach Rashid Mubiru has been appointed as the new head coach of Uganda’s national netball team, the She Cranes. His appointment comes immediately after the swearing-in of the new Netball Federation President, Joseline Uchanda, and the decision to drop the interim coaches, Nelson Bogere and Noordeen, who had been overseeing the team under the normalization committee. Uchanda, who is also one of the heads of NIC (National Insurance Corporation), made the call to bring Mubiru on board, signaling a fresh start for the team as they prepare for upcoming international fixtures.
Mubiru, known for his previous successful stints with the She Cranes, will lead the team’s first non-residential training session this Monday at Lugogo. His focus will be on preparing the team for a series of friendlies and netball competitions, including a high-profile netball series in the United Kingdom scheduled for early this year. This move marks one of the first major changes under the new administration’s 100-day plan, signaling a strong commitment to elevating the team’s performance on the international stage. Meanwhile, the coaches who were previously in charge will remain attached to their respective teams.
This is not Mubiru’s first time leading the She Cranes to success. In 2015, he replaced Fred Mugerwa just weeks before the Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, following Mugerwa’s decades-long leadership of the team. Mubiru’s coaching prowess has since earned him accolades, including guiding Uganda to victory in the 2018 World University Championship, where the team was crowned champions. His return to the helm of the She Cranes after the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool solidified his status as a key figure in Ugandan netball, steering the team to success in the Africa Netball Cup in South Africa.
Looking ahead, Mubiru will lead the She Cranes through a busy year. After the upcoming international friendlies, the team will focus on local competitions starting with the Novices tournament in March, followed by the National Rally in April. In May, the She Cranes will compete in the East Africa Championship in Zanzibar, before embarking on the home-and-away National League. With Mubiru at the helm, expectations are high for the She Cranes as they aim to dominate the continent and beyond in the coming year.
