Uganda national baseball team
| Uganda national baseball team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Information | ||
| Country | Uganda | |
| Federation | Uganda Baseball & Softball Association | |
| Confederation | WBSC Africa | |
| WBSC ranking | ||
| Current | 49 6 (31 December 2025)[1] | |
| Highest | 36 (28 March 2023) | |
| Lowest | not ranked (most recently in December 2018) | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
The Uganda national baseball team is the men'snational team representing Uganda in international competitions in the sport of baseball. The team is organized by the Uganda Baseball and Softball Association and is a member of WBSC Africa.[2]
Baseball and softball were introduced to Uganda in 1989 by Christian missionaries from Warsaw, Indiana who provided some balls, six bats, and no gloves to three schools.[2]
Uganda has competed in several African tournaments, medalling in the Africa Cup Championship in 2001, which it hosted in Kampala, and 2019 and participating in both baseball competitions in the All-Africa Games, in 1999 and 2003.[3][4]
The national association also organizes the Uganda Men's Baseball National League, which ran from 2016 to 2022 and restarted in 2026.[5]
Three players from Uganda have signed with Major League Baseball teams. Pitcher Ben Serunkuma and outfielder Umar Male signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022.[6][7], though both were released in 2024.[8][9] Pitcher David Matoma signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2023 and threw a 101 mph (163 km/h) fastball in the minors.[10] The Dodgers also have a youth baseball academy in Mpigi, where Matoma also trained. At least two Ugandan players have played NCAA Division III baseball.[7]
Uganda has also had success at the youth level, winning the 2023 U-12 Baseball World Cup Africa Qualifier and qualifying for the Little League World Series in 2012 and 2015,[11][12] though lack of funding has limited participation in international tournaments.[13][7] Uganda finished second at the U-15 Baseball World Cup Africa Qualifier held in 2025.[14]
Tournament record
| All-Africa Games record | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | W | L | RS | RA |
| 1999 | Round robin | 6th | 0 | 5 | 13 | 128 |
| 2003 | Semifinals | 4th | 1 | 5 | 27 | 64 |
| Total | 2/2 | – | 1 | 10 | 40 | 192 |
| 11 September 16:00 |
Uganda | 1–27 (F/5) | Nigeria | Randburg Sports Stadium |
| LP: Henry Odong | Boxscore | WP: Augustine Gabriel |
| 12 September 16:00 |
Ghana | 27–6 (F/5) | Uganda | Randburg Sports Stadium |
| WP: Ishmael Abayaa | Boxscore | LP: Henry Odong |
| 13 September 09:00 |
South Africa | 31–0 (F/7) | Uganda | Randburg Sports Stadium |
| WP: Vaughn Beariman | Boxscore | LP: Rockfeller Erima |
| 14 September 11:00 |
Uganda | 1–30 (F/6) | Zimbabwe | Randburg Sports Stadium |
| LP: Henry Odong | Boxscore | WP: Nhauro Mpanguri |
| 15 September 11:00 |
Uganda | 3–13 (F/7) | Lesotho | Randburg Sports Stadium |
| LP: Rockfeller Erima | Boxscore | WP: Justice Tsuniyane |
See also
- Sport in Uganda
- Uganda women's national under-19 cricket team
- Uganda national cricket team
- Uganda men's national lacrosse team
References
- ^ "WBSC World Rankings". WBSC. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Members - Uganda". WBSC Africa. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "History of WBSC Africa". WBSC Africa. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ a b Gillen, Nancy (5 May 2019). "South Africa overwhelm Uganda to reach WBSC Baseball Europe-Africa qualifying event for Tokyo 2020". Inside the Games. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Uganda Baseball National League to resume after four years". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "Historic: MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers sign two players from Uganda". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Baxter, Kevin (4 May 2023). "Inside the 'secret' baseball academy the Dodgers are running in Uganda". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "Ben Serunkuma Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "Umar Male Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ Stumpf, Alex (19 March 2025). "No. 30 prospect Matoma brings the heat, looks to make history". MLB.com. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ Waldron, Travis (22 August 2012). "Uganda Makes History At The Little League World Series". Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ Lagesse, David (18 August 2015). "Baseball And Uganda — Two Words That Don't Usually Go Together". NPR. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "Uganda win historic WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Africa Qualifier". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
- ^ "U-15 BWC Africa Qualifier". WBSC Africa. Retrieved 3 March 2026.