City Oilers Open NBL Season with Convincing Win Over Namuwongo Blazers

City Oilers began their National Basketball League campaign in emphatic fashion, securing a 74–65 victory over the Namuwongo Blazers in a high-intensity season opener played at the Lugogo Indoor Arena on Friday night.

After narrowly missing out on the 2025 NBL title, the record champions sent an early statement of intent, showcasing the benefits of an active off-season recruitment drive.

The Oilers got off the mark through Joel Kayira, who drained a jump shot to make an immediate impact on his debut. With Joel Lukoji and Fayed Baale controlling proceedings from the backcourt, City Oilers displayed superior ball movement that left the Blazers struggling to match their tempo. The first quarter ended with the Oilers holding a narrow 10–8 advantage.

The contest intensified in the second quarter as Michael Makiadi knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to 24–22 with five minutes left in the half. A driving layup by Blair Wadaya capped an energetic spell for the Blazers, but they still trailed 35–32 at halftime.

City Oilers asserted their dominance after the break. Landry Ndikumana and Baale caught fire from beyond the arc, stretching the lead to double digits within the opening two minutes of the third quarter. Isaac Athuai then closed the period with a composed layup, handing the Oilers a commanding 57–41 lead.

The momentum carried into the final quarter as the Oilers scored six unanswered points to extend their advantage to 18, forcing the Blazers into a desperate timeout. Peter Obleng briefly revived Namuwongo with a corner three, but Titus Lual responded immediately with one of his own to keep the Oilers firmly in control.

A late surge saw Henry Ssebagala hit consecutive three-pointers, reducing the gap to 71–61 with just over a minute remaining. However, the rally came too late as City Oilers comfortably closed out the contest to claim a nine-point victory.

Fayed Baale led the scoring for City Oilers with 20 points, supported by Landry Ndikumana with 17 and Joel Lukoji with 12. For the Blazers, Peter Obleng finished with 11 points, while Moses Mugisha added 10 in a losing effort.