The Uganda women cricket team defeated hosts Rwanda by 39 runs to win the 2016 Genocide memorial tournament played on Saturday at Kicukiro cricket ground.

Rwanda won the toss and elected to bowl first restricting Uganda to 189 runs in 40 overs. In reply the home side only managed 150 runs all out in 39.2 overs.

Uganda’s Immaculate Nakimuli was central to her team’s success, scoring 46 runs for 65 balls, and was ably supported by Hilda Kabaseke, who made 22 runs for 45 balls.

Babyish Ishimwe was the pick of the Rwandan bowlers, taking four wickets in eight overs and with the bat; she made 17 runs in 20 balls. Damali Businge was Rwanda’s top scorer with 64 runs in 94 balls.

Rwanda’s coach Davis Turinawe said his team tried to compete but failed to match the level of their opponents."The lessons we have taken today will only make us a better team, it was a good learning experience for our players,” said the former Uganda international.

In his remarks at the closing ceremony, the Rwanda Cricket Association (RCA) president Charles Haba congratulated the Ugandan team and also commended the existing good relationship between the two associations (RCA and Uganda Cricket Association, UCA).

"Over the years since the introduction of cricket in Rwanda, we have been playing with Ugandan cricketers and also using Ugandan coaches,” he said.

Haba further explained that, "When it comes to the Genocide commemoration tournament, the Ugandan cricket team has never excused itself, and we greatly appreciate that.”

The annual tournament, which is in its third edition, is organized in honor of the sportsmen and women who died during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

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