Victoria Pearls name 14-player squad for 2026 Victoria series
David GOMBE
The Victoria Pearls have officially named their 14-player squad alongside two reserves for the upcoming 2026 Victoria Series at the Entebbe Cricket Oval.
The tournament will bowl off from November 6 to 14, 2026 and will feature regional neighbours Rwanda, nemeses Namibia and the USA.
Australian-based 23-year-old right-handed batter Kampi Nainhabo is in line for her international debut, having developed through the Victorian domestic pathway. She brings experience from the South East Bayside Breakers, Cricket Victoria Female High Performance Academy, and Melbourne Cricket Club.
The trio of Nainhabo and other inclusions replace Phiona Egaru Kulume, Jimia Abdallah Muhammed, and Irene Mutonyi, who travelled with the team to Windhoek in July.
Uganda heads into the Series high on confidence after an unbeaten run at the Capricorn Tri-Series in Namibia. The Pearls opened with a thrilling 1-run win over USA (103/5 to 102/8) before closing the competition with an 11-run victory over USA (101/5 to 90 all out) to finish unbeaten, despite earlier group stage losses to Namibia.
The Victoria Series is part of the build-up to the 2027 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier finals.
Captain Janet Mbabazi:
“We are excited to host the 3 teams in the Victoria series. As an athlete, you always want to play competitive games, so we are excited to have some good competition coming up. Also, being able to host 3 nations in this tournament shows just how much women’s cricket is growing globally.
For us, the success we had in the Capricorn series in Namibia is a huge confidence booster because it shows how much we have improved and grown as a team. Everyone is focused and ready to compete.
Namibia is definitely a tough opposition; they beat us 2 times in the group stage in the Capricorn series. We played USA earlier this year, and Rwanda last year; they bring more energy, and they all bring something unique to the competition. So we know what to expect.”
*Full Selected Squad:*
– Janet Mbabazi (C)
– Stephanie Nampiina
– Proscovia Alako
– Ritah Musamali
– Esther Iloku
– Immaculate Nakisuyi
– Kevin Awino (WK)
– Malisa Ariokot
– Sarah Walaza
– Naume Amongin
– Consylate Aweko Nimungu
– Sarah Akiteng
– Asumin Akurut
– Kampi Nainhabo
Reserves: Phiona Egaru Kulume 16. Lorna Anyait