Reviewed by Michael AinomugishaUganda sports betting writer
Published 13 September 2026 · Updated 24 September 2026
Uganda have won their first three matches of the ILT20 Continent Cup title defence in Kigali, and set a national record along the way with 250 for three against Sierra Leone.
The Cricket Cranes opened with a win by 114 runs over Sierra Leone at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali. Their 250 for three is the highest total Uganda have made in a men’s T20 international, passing the 229 they set in December 2024. Charles Musemeza made 89 and Gerald Olipa finished on 83 not out from 34 balls.
Botswana and Rwanda follow
Botswana were beaten next. Rwanda then lost by 64 runs at the same ground, Uganda posting 198 for nine and bowling the hosts out for 134 inside nineteen overs.
Anas Mirza Baig made 66 from 36 balls against Rwanda after being dismissed cheaply in the first two matches. Olipa added 45.
A third title is the target
Uganda have won the last two editions of the Continent Cup, in Nairobi in 2023 and in Kigali in 2024, and arrived in Rwanda as holders. Kenya, also unbeaten through the opening matches, were the next opponents as the first round reached its close.
Update, 19 September 2026: Kenya beat Uganda by 39 runs in the final on 19 September to win the title, and Uganda finished as runners up.
The tournament matters beyond the trophy. It is the regular competitive cricket Uganda get between ICC pathway events, and it is where the squad gets to settle.
The Continent Cup is played as a double round robin with a final, all at the Gahanga Cricket Stadium in Kigali. Sierra Leone, Botswana, Rwanda and Kenya have all been on Uganda’s schedule in the first round.
The 250 for three is the number that will last. Uganda’s previous best men’s T20 international total, 229, had stood since December 2024, and beating it by twenty one runs in the first match of a title defence sets a marker for the rest of the tournament.
Where to bet: Ugandan cricket is priced narrowly outside the global tournaments, so expect match winner and total runs rather than a full menu. Betway and SportyBet, both licensed by the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board, carry the markets in Ugandan shillings with mobile money deposits. Associate cricket prices move on team news and on the toss more than on form, so compare the two books before you stake. Our guide to the best betting sites in Uganda covers licensing and withdrawal times, and there is more in Uganda cricket news from AXN Sports. 25+. Gamble responsibly.
