Ugandan side UCU Lady Canons has pulled out of the 2023 FIBA Zone V Women’s Championship due in Kigali from October 28 to November 4 as financial crisis bites the club.

The 2022 Ugandan champions withdrew from the two-week competition due to lack of funding for the trip.

"We have pulled out of the tournament due to financial constraints,” club head coach Nicholas Natuhereza told Ugandan media.

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Sam Lukaire, the head of sports at UCU, also asserted that a small budget for sports has greatly affected their program.

"It is disappointing that the ladies will not go to Kigali. We are currently looking for sponsors to curb the big challenge of lack of funds. We need to wait and see if we can get some sponsors on board,” Lukaire explained.

Lady Canons finished third in the just-concluded Uganda Women’s National Basketball League and the FIBA Africa Women’s Basketball League 2023 Qualifiers was going to continue the litmus process to the growing team.

Their sudden withdrawal means that JKL Lady Dolphins are the lone Ugandan side confirmed for the tournament.

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The Zone V championship will bring together ten teams from six countries, with host nation Rwanda having two representatives in APR and Rwanda Energy Group(REG). Other participating teams include Vijana Queens and JKT Stars from Tanzania, Nile Legends from South Sudan, JKL Lady Dolphins of Uganda, Kenya Ports Authority and Zetech University from Kenya, and Gladiators from Burundi.