By Michael Ainomugisha
At the 2025 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University 3×3 Basketball World Cup, the Uganda Christian University (UCU) team did not just participate. The Lady Canons made a statement in Brasília, Brazil, becoming the first African university team to win a medal. The team’s third place finish earned them a bronze and a global applause.
Lady Canons captain Shillah Lamunu proudly holds the UCU flag during the 2025 FISU 3×3 World Cup in Brasília.
Represented by Martina Anyango, Sylvia Nantongo, Tracy Namugosa and team captain, Shillah Lamunu Aber, the quartet saw off China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology in a thrilling 18-15 victory to claim the medal.
A 3×3 basketball game is played over a maximum 10-minute period. The first team to score 21 points wins the game. If no team reaches the 21-point mark, the team with the higher score at the end of regular time is declared the winner.
Lady Canons began their campaign with confidence and control, opening with a 19–11 victory over the University of Seville in Spain, before edging out the University of Chile 17–15 to secure a place in the knockout stage. In the quarterfinals, UCU easily saw off the University of Valencia, defeating them 20–16.
Their push for a place in the final was halted in a narrow 17–16 loss to Vasyl Stefanyk University of Ukraine. They later turned this pain of the loss into success, beating China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology to a podium finish.
Shillah Lamunu, a third-year student pursuing Bachelor of Laws, said the journey to the bronze medal was an unforgettable one.
“This was my first time representing the university outside Africa,” Lamunu, also the team captain, said. “I wasn’t just playing for myself, I was representing my teammates, my family, my university and Africa at large.”
After the semifinal loss, she gathered her team and delivered the message that earned them their net win: “I told them, ‘Bronze is also something. We either go home with bronze or nothing.’”
Lamunu credits her strength to prayer and says she turned to God whenever pressure overwhelmed her.
“There were moments I had to run to the bathroom and cry to God, when things got tough, we prayed, refocused, and fought hard,” she said.
She also acknowledged UCU’s long-term commitment to nurturing athletes: “In Nick Natuhereza, we have the best coach in the country. We have courts, equipment, jerseys, everything we need. Not every university can invest resources to nurture sports giants. We had to give back.”
Tracy Namugosa, the 2025 FISU 3×3 World Cup Most Valuable Player (Women’s Category), poses with her award in Brasília, Brazil.
Namugosa makes history as MVP
The tournament also shone a spotlight on the outstanding individual performance of Tracy Namugosa, who was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) after scoring 11 of UCU’s 18 points in the bronze-medal game. Namugosa, a student of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), became the first African player to receive the honor at the 10-year-old competition.
The FISU 3×3 World Cup started in 2015 as the World University League, later evolving into the current University World Cup format for 3×3 basketball, with the first edition held successfully in Xiamen, China.
Namugosa says her growth as a player has been a result of experience and deliberate effort: “At last year’s event in China, it was my first time playing beyond Africa. This year, I built on that experience and delivered results.”
Before the tournament, she set a personal target. “I wanted to get an accolade. I didn’t expect the MVP one, but I wanted to be the best shooter. God made it better than what I had expected.”
Both Namugosa and Lamunu credit UCU’s holistic support system, coaching, facilities, academic guidance, travel support and the sports program for shaping them into disciplined student-athletes who can compete on the global stage.
“Not all universities see the value of investing in sports, but UCU does,” Namugosa said. “That’s why we’re able to compete at this level.”
Lamunu added: “The university gives us everything we need. So, when we step on the court, we fight to honor that.”
As senior players, they hope their journey inspires younger athletes. Lamunu has captained both UCU and Uganda’s U23 3×3 national team.
“Hard work, consistency, and prayer – those three things will take you places. Discipline is what puts you on the team,” Namugosa counselled younger athletes.
At the same tournament, Uganda Christian University also was represented by the UCU Canons (men’s team), comprising Joel Kayiira, Amara Ariho, Flore Dushime, and Daniel Muganzi. Despite a spirited effort, the Canons lost all their three fixtures: 12–16 to the University of Melbourne, 15–19 to the University of Puerto Rico and 15–17 to Huaqiao University.
The UCU teams qualified for the basketball World Cup after winning the African edition of the championship. Both the Canons and the Lady Canons emerged victorious in their respective finals against United States International University Africa, with scores of 19–15 and 21–19. The two-day tournament was held at Hamz Stadium in Kampala, from June 7 to 8.
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