Mercy Batamuliza and Shadia Nassanga, both in their mid-20s, have been lifelong friends.
From their early childhood days, they have been playmates, right through primary at Kiddawalime Preparatory School in Namungoona, a Kampala suburb. While they separated at secondary school level, as Batamuliza joined St. Noa Schools in Zzana, Nassanga was not so far away, as she joined St Mary’s SS Kitende.
Coincidentally, they both joined schools along Entebbe road prominent for a rich sports culture. It was there that their netball playing careers, which were kick-started at Kiddawalime, began to blossom.
Since 2023, they both play for the national team, the She Cranes. In fact, they are the attacking duo of KCCA in the Netball Super League. With all said, they are close friends, yet, at the tail-end of 2023, they were on war paths, after the teams they represent in the National Basketball League, met in the women’s final.
It is interesting how they managed to be friends, who turned rivals during that period. Batamuliza laughed about it when she was asked.
Yet, she quickly added: “Such is sport. On the court, you are rivals. Off it, life continues as usual.”
Unfortunately, Batamuliza was not able to have the last laugh, after the best of seven playoff finals in November ended after five games, with her JT Lady Jaguars side losing 1-4 to the JKL Dolphins, that Nassanga represented with grit to great effect. Batamuliza said: “It was sad that we lost that final. But, on the other hand, I was happy for my friend because she had worked so hard for it. And considering how far she had come from, I cannot say that she did not deserve it.”
Nassanga and Batamuliza have had such a fairytale run in basketball. They did not start playing the game earlier than 2023. In fact, it was after Batamuliza had been introduced to it, that she encouraged Nassanga to escort her for practice.
While at Lugogo, where the JT Lady Jaguars were practicing from, Nassanga was intercepted by Fredricks Freedom Owora, the technical director of the JKL Dolphins. After a short conversation with her, Owora asked Nassanga to join his team for training.
He felt that she had the required height for a post player. Nassanga said: “I was a bit hesitant to heed Freedom’s call because I had never played basketball. Besides, I thought it was quite technical. But with the encouragement of Batamuliza, I said, why not?”
Two years down the road, and Nassanga now has two championships with the Dolphins. But the one of 2025 was more special because unlike the one of 2024 which she won as a bystander largely, the one last year had her contribution significantly felt.
Nassanga’s precise floaters were key in the Dolphins winning a number of close encounters. Without a doubt, Nassanga became a real threat to many defences. But even her defending improved a lot.
She was picking more rebounds than not. Meanwhile, although Batamuliza was on the losing side, 2025 could probably not have gone better for her. While Nassanga celebrated winning the championship, Batamuliza won two individual accolades, as the best rebounder in the women’s division.
She also made the best five of the 2025 season. That was not something she could have dreamt about; to be a key player in women’s basketball in the country. Nassanga said: “I was not surprised that Batamuliza was selected among the best five players in 2025. She played good basketball. Probably no one felt her toughness than Hope Akello and I because she was designated to mark us. The fact that she is taller than me, and more physical, she made life really hard.”
Batamuliza gives all the credit to her coach, Sudi Ulanga, whom she says has made her the basketball player she is today. That is why she is a mainstay in the team. In the NBL this year, Batamuliza averaged 25 minutes per game, while Nassanga averaged 20 minutes, a big climb from eight or so minutes in 2024.
During the finals, Batamuliza averaged 8.5 points, 12.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. For Nassanga, she has averaged 7.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and one assist. On that note, Nassanga admitted recently that she needs to improve her offence to match with the strides she had made as a defender.
She added: “Right from the off-season this year, Hope Akello had been teaching me how to become a better post player. There is no doubt how much my coaches have invested in me, but Akello was a godsend.”
Yet, even with all those that Nassanga can credit, one touching fact is that her connection to Batamuliza is a real fairytale. After game one of their final last year, which the Jaguars won, both Nassanga and Batamuliza travelled together for game two, chatting about the game, a pointer that even if sport can make you rivals, their friendship is an indelible mark.
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