Ugandan cricket got a big boost today with the arrival of a huge shipment of cricket gear! The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) announced that their long-time friends, Bankstown District Cricket Club (BDCC) from New South Wales, Australia, sent over a container packed with essential equipment.
This special delivery included everything from a turf roller and wicket covers to t-shirts, balls, bats, pads, gloves, helmets, and even coaching books. It’s a clear sign of the strong friendship that has grown between Uganda and Bankstown over two decades.
Jackson Kavuma, the UCA Chairman, was thrilled. He said, “This donation reminds us how far we’ve come and what strong, lasting partnerships can achieve. We are deeply thankful to Bankstown District Cricket Club for walking this journey with us for 20 years and counting.” He also gave a special shout-out to Bankstown Chairman John Murray for personally donating the roller, highlighting its big impact on the game’s future.
Evelyn Kabongerwa Shinyekwa, the UCA CEO, who managed getting the container here, added that this equipment will not only make playing better at the grassroots level but also provide valuable training for players, coaches, and officials across the country. She emphasized UCA’s dedication to developing young talent and making cricket stronger in Uganda, saying these contributions from friends like Bankstown make their work much easier.
The bond between Uganda and Bankstown goes all the way back to 2005. It started shortly after Uganda’s first appearance at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004. Back then, some Ugandan U-19 players met Brian Freedman, who was the Australia U-19 Team Manager at the time. This meeting planted the seeds for a lasting friendship that has continued to grow with regular equipment donations and sharing of knowledge.
This latest shipment, carefully arranged with Martin Klumpp, BDCC Honorary Secretary, truly shows UCA’s commitment to improving the sport through important partnerships and community efforts.
