With the roar of the home crowd just days away, the Uganda Men’s National Volleyball Team, the Volleyball Cranes, has officially trimmed its roster down to the final squad tasked with securing continental glory.
Uganda is set to host the highly anticipated CAVB Zone V Qualifiers at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium from 31st May to 6th June 2026.
Facing stiff regional competition from powerhouse neighbors like Kenya, Rwanda, and Egypt, head coach Shilla Omuriwe’s final selection strikes a calculated balance between battle-tested veteran leadership and electrifying youthful energy.
The finalised squad features structural depth across all positions, locked in and ready to defend the home court
In the Receiver Attackers , power and precision will anchor Uganda’s frontline offense. This wing is led by the clinical Angiro Nepal Gideon and the iconic, deeply experienced Aporu George Herbert.
Bolstering the outside hitting rotation are Kyomukama Duke Philip and the dynamic Tumukunde Jonathan.
In the facilitators’ docket, orchestrating the tempo and distribution for the Cranes will be the brilliant minds of Oboke Marino and veteran floor general Okumu Smith as the chosen setters.
For the opposites, the heavy artillery rests on the shoulders of Iga Mohammed and Qatar-based professional star Okello Daudi, whose international experience is expected to carry a massive scoring load under pressure.
Uganda’s middle blockers at the net features an imposing defensive lineup of Omoding Muzafaru Owen, Opila Bosco, Talemwa Willington, and Malinga Bernard, all primed to shut down the region’s elite hitters.
Holding down the defensive fort and directing reception will be the agile duo of Elanyu Emmanuel and Nabanji Sharif as the chosen Liberos.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. The winner of this grueling zonal tournament automatically books a ticket to the prestigious African Nations Volleyball Championship 2026, scheduled to take place this September in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
With the final squad now set, the countdown to May 31st officially begins. The Volleyball Cranes are no longer just practicing. they are ready for war.