With chants, drums, and flags, the Victoria Pearls, the pride of Ugandan women’s cricket, were given a colorful sendoff as they departed for Namibia to chase history. The national women’s senior cricket team heads into the ICC Women’s T20 Africa Qualifiers not just as competitors, but as a rising force determined to etch Uganda’s name on the global cricket map. Ranked 17th in the world, their mission is to secure a berth at the Global Qualifier, the final hurdle on the road to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales.
The squad is captained by the ever-composed Janet Mbabazi, whose leadership on and off the pitch has been vital in shaping the team’s identity. Coaches Deus Muhumuza and Brian Masaba have praised the Pearls’ balance and depth, pointing to the mix of experienced campaigners such as Immaculate Nakisuuyi, Proscovia Alako, and Stephanie Nampiina, alongside the raw energy of debutant Naome Jane Amongin. For Uganda, this blend of resilience and renewal could prove decisive against some of Africa’s most formidable opponents.
Their campaign begins on August 31 against Tanzania, followed swiftly by Rwanda and Kenya in back-to-back contests. These East African rivalries promise intensity, but the sterner tests lie ahead against regional heavyweights Zimbabwe and hosts Namibia, both considered frontrunners. Still, Captain Mbabazi has been quick to remind fans that the Pearls are no longer outsiders, they are competitors with the discipline and hunger to upset the established order.
Beyond the fixtures, this journey carries symbolic weight. Women’s cricket in Uganda has steadily gained traction, but the Pearls’ presence at such tournaments has elevated the conversation. Their performances are not only about qualification but about inspiring young girls across Uganda to see cricket as a sport of possibility. Each run scored and wicket taken becomes part of a larger story: one of perseverance, opportunity, and national pride.
As the team sets its sights on September 7, the day they return home, there is a sense that the Pearls are writing more than match results. In Namibia, they have the chance to redefine Uganda’s place in the global cricket narrative, turning a spirited sendoff into the beginning of an underdog tale that could ripple across the continent and beyond.
