By Isaac Akugizibwe

The Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) officially announced the fixtures for the 2025 National Basketball League (NBL) season on Monday, revealing the matchups for both KIU basketball teams KIU Titans and KIU Rangers.

KIU Rangers will begin their 2025 NBL campaign on Friday, March 28, facing off against their archrivals, the UCU Lady Canons. The newly revamped KIU Titans will start their season the following day, Saturday, March 29, 2025, against Livingstone Basketball Club.

However, the season will officially tip off this Friday, March 21, with exciting encounters in both the men's and women's leagues. The rejuvenated JT Lady Jaguars will open the season against the defending champions, JKL Lady Dolphins, followed by a highly anticipated clash between the star-studded Namuwongo Blazers and the defending men's champions, City Oilers which will likely set the tone for the 2025 season.

After their opener against the UCU Lady Canons, the KIU Rangers will face the UPDF Lady Tomahawks on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. They will then entertain the KCCA Leopards on Friday, April 4, before taking on the Nkumba Lady Marines two days later.

The KIU Titans will return to action on April 5 against JKL Dolphins in a game scheduled to be held at UCU in Mukono. Their next match will be a high-stakes rivalry against the Namuwongo Blazers on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The first round of the 2025 NBL season will conclude on May 11, 2025, with the second round expected to begin a week or two later.

KIU Titans finished as runners-up last season after a 4-0 sweep by the City Oilers in the finals. With the team now focusing exclusively on student talent, matching last season's success will be a formidable challenge. However, with the coaching expertise of Julius Lutwama, hope remains high for the team's prospects.

For KIU Rangers, the primary focus is on securing the top prize. Most of the squad that finished fourth last season remains intact, and the addition of Leticia Awori will provide a significant boost to coach Julius Lutwama's team.