By Rose Namata….
KAMPALA, UGANDA: The 2026 FortBet Real Stars Awards delivered a powerful celebration of Ugandan sporting excellence, with Ronald Rugumayo, Shadia Nassanga and King Farahat Manirola emerging as the standout names in golf, netball and boxing respectively, while veteran football figure and broadcaster Yusuf Baliluno received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Rugumayo’s recognition capped a landmark year in which he ended Uganda’s 12-year wait for a home professional champion at the Uganda Open, winning the 21st Johnnie Walker Uganda Open after overcoming Nigeria’s Godwin Akoko in the decisive stages. His triumph placed him alongside Deo Akope as only the second Ugandan professional to lift the prestigious title since 2014.
On the netball court, Shadia Nassanga transformed opportunity into continental glory, earning the Real Stars Netball Award after a sensational campaign with the Uganda She Cranes at the 2026 Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi. Nassanga combined accuracy, consistency and composure to finish the tournament as both Most Valuable Player and Best Shooter, helping Uganda complete an unbeaten run capped by a dramatic 56–53 victory over South Africa at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Her individual brilliance became part of a wider team achievement, but her shooting ultimately provided one of the clearest signatures of Uganda’s championship campaign.
In boxing, King Farahat Manirola, popularly known as Nightmare, strengthened his reputation on foreign soil by defeating Russia’s Georgii Chelokhsaev by unanimous decision in their highly anticipated rematch. The victory followed Manirola’s earlier win over the same opponent in March and reinforced his status as the first Ugandan professional boxer to record a victory in Russia. His back-to-back success carries particular weight in a boxing culture where several Ugandan fighters have previously tested themselves against Russian opposition. Meanwhile, the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Yusuf Baliluno, whose extraordinary journey has moved through football, journalism, radio commentary and advocacy. From his early playing days with clubs including Villa International, Bukedi Stars, Military Police, Kampala UTODA and Mityana UTODA to becoming a recognised voice at CBS FM and Radio 4, Baliluno has experienced Ugandan football from almost every possible angle. Real Stars Awards CEO Isaac Mukasa described his contribution as extending far beyond his playing career, highlighting his continuing influence on generations of football followers.
Behind the celebrations, however, the awards also revealed the less glamorous side of sporting success: the battle for resources. Uganda Netball Federation President Joslyn Lukyanda, while congratulating the She Cranes and Nassanga, explained that the UGX 500 million government allocation was designed to cover two quarters rather than the Africa Netball Cup alone, with UGX 250 million earmarked for the first quarter. According to Lukyanda, the available first-quarter resources were insufficient to meet every requirement, forcing the federation to make difficult logistical decisions, including using road transport to manage costs. The episode offers a reminder that Uganda’s sporting victories are not always built on abundant resources; sometimes they are constructed through sacrifice, adaptation and the determination of athletes and officials to compete regardless of the obstacles.
Perhaps that is the real story behind this year’s Real Stars Awards. A golfer ended a 12-year drought, a netball shooter turned precision into continental gold, a boxer conquered an opponent twice on Russian territory, and a football man was honoured for a lifetime spent serving the game. Their journeys may have taken different routes, but they share one unmistakable thread: greatness rarely arrives in perfect conditions. On a night designed to celebrate winners, the deeper tribute was to the persistence behind the trophies—the early mornings, difficult journeys, limited budgets, hostile arenas and countless moments when athletes had to choose to continue. In the end, the Real Stars were not simply rewarded for what they won; they were recognised for what they endured to become winners.
Courtesy Photo
