Itanda Kayakers rose to the occasion when it mattered most, turning earlier disappointment into championship glory. In a gripping final at Lugogo Cricket Oval, they outsmart Karuma Rapids to claim the Waterfalls Women’s Elite League 2026 title, sealing their dominance with a composed and
clinical performance.
Match Day 5 Results
Last Group stage match
Itanda Kayakers: 30/4 (5.0 overs)
Karuma Rapids: 31/0 (4.1 overs)
Result: Karuma Rapids won by 10 wickets
Player of the Match: Concylate Aweko Nimungu
Finals
Karuma Rapids vs Itanda Kayakers
Toss: Karuma Rapids won the toss and elected to bat
Karuma Rapids: 102 all out (20.0 overs)
Itanda Kayakers: 103/4 (15.3 overs)
Result: Itanda Kayakers won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Hanifa Noreen
Under the bright skies of Lugogo Cricket Oval, the story of the Waterfalls Women’s Elite League
2026 came full circle in dramatic fashion. What began as a rivalry marked by dominance and disappointment ended in redemption, resilience, and silverware for Itanda Kayakers.
Karuma Rapids walked into the final with confidence, memories still fresh of their emphatic group stage triumph—a rain-shortened five-over contest where they had steamrolled the Kayakers by ten
wickets, restricting them to a modest 30 for 4 before chasing it down with ease earlier in the morning. That victory had secured vital points and dashed Bujjagali Rafters’ hopes of sneaking into the finals on net run rate. On paper, the Rapids looked ready to finish the job.
Winning the toss in the final, Karuma Rapids chose to bat, intent on setting the tone. But the Kayakers, calm and calculated, had other plans. From the very first overs, their bowlers applied relentless pressure, striking early and refusing to let partnerships settle. Wickets fell at regular
intervals, and the Rapids found themselves constantly rebuilding.
At the heart of Karuma’s resistance stood their captain, Proscovia Alako. With composure and courage, she fought against the tide, crafting a determined 46 from 41 balls, punctuated by five crisp boundaries and a towering six. A brief burst of energy came from Patricia Malemikia, whose quick 12 off 7 balls hinted at a late surge, but the momentum never truly arrived.
Instead, it was Hanifa Noreen who seized control of the final. Her devastating spell—three wickets for just 11 runs in two overs—ripped through the middle order and tilted the match firmly in
Kayakers’ favour. Immaculate Nandera and Naume Jane Amongin offered perfect support, each
claiming two wickets, as Karuma Rapids were bowled out for 102 exactly at the end of the 20th over.
Chasing 103 for glory, Itanda Kayakers stumbled early when Giringish Shadia Nabulime departed,
briefly stirring hope in the Rapids’ camp. But that hope was short-lived. Janet Mbabazi stepped in
with poise beyond her years, anchoring the innings with a mature 36 off 38 balls, absorbing pressure
and keeping the chase steady.
Then came the spark. Jimia Abdallah Muhammed shifted the tempo with fearless intent, smashing
28 off just 21 deliveries, her three fours and two sixes electrifying the crowd and swinging
momentum decisively. With Immaculate Nakisuuyi adding a valuable 19 and Lorna Anyait calmly
seeing the chase through with an unbeaten 8, the finish line drew ever closer.
When the winning runs were struck at 15.3 overs, the scoreboard read 103 for 4—and history was made. Itanda Kayakers, once humbled by Karuma Rapids in the final group stage game, now stood crowned champions of the Waterfalls Women’s Elite League 2026, sealing a composed six-wicket victory when it mattered most.
For Karuma Rapids, it was a campaign filled with fight, flair, and near glory, ending in a hard-earned second place. For Itanda Kayakers, it was a story of growth, belief, and perfect timing—a
title lifted in style, and a final chapter written with authority.
Reflecting on the tournament, the Head of High Performance, Richard Okia, stated, “We are pleased
to conclude five days of intense competition focused on identifying talent. This is an excellent
initiative by Cricket Uganda, providing us with a broad pool of players to select from. Our primary goal was talent identification, and as the High-Performance team, we see this as a significant step in the right direction. We hope to organize more tournaments like this in the future to continue
developing our players.”
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Promising Player- Ruth Mwanga (Bujjagali)
Best Batter- Proscovia Alako (Karuma)
Best Bowler- Michelle Ariago (Itanda)
Most Valuable Player- Rita Musamali (Karuma)
