Riazat Ali Shah was crowned the Cricketer of the Year at the 2024 UCA Awards held on Saturday night at Cooper Chimney in Lugogo.

The Cricket Cranes Captain won a close poll with his predecessor Brian Masaba, with Victoria Pearls’ all-rounder Immaculate Nakisuyi finishing in third.

There was very little to separate the two players Brian Masaba leading the Cricket Cranes at the World Cup and being the first Ugandan player to pick a World Cup wicket finishing with a collection of five wickets at the tournament.

Riazat Ali Shah won the Player of the Match award in the only game Uganda won at the World Cup against PNG but his performances for the Cricket Cranes during the Challenge League B hosted by Uganda gave him the edge in the polls.

Shah’s 276 runs with a century and two half-centuries helped the Cricket Cranes finish unbeaten and take a spot after the 1st round of the Challenge League hosted by Uganda.

Alpesh Ramjani beat Henry Ssenyondo for the International Cricketer of the Year (Men) in a prolific year for the two left-arm spinners. Both players have become constant in the Cricket Cranes lineup and their complementary skills have helped the team win games they have no business winning.

Ssenyondo was very pivotal for the Cricket Cranes during the Challenge League with a match-winning performance against Italy. However, Alpesh Ramjani was consistent over both formats, and his extended run during the World Cup collecting four wickets and his best bowling performance at the African Games gave him the edge.

Robinson Obuya had a consistent year at the top of the order for the Cricket Cranes and finished third.

Meanwhile, Rita Musamali edged out her teammates Immaculate Nakisuyi and Proscovia Alako in a quiet year for the Victoria Pearls. Musamali was the go-to batter for the Victoria Pearls especially when the top failed and her 151 T20i international runs all came at a time of need for the Victoria Pearls in a year they won their fourth Kwibuka Title.

Suleiman Shariff (Wanderers) won the Male Domestic Player of the Year for his strong form locally winning both the MVP for the 50 Over League and T20 League while Teddy Oyella (Tornado Bee) won the Female Domestic Player of the Year for her MVP performance in the Women’s T20 League.

Irene Mutoni won the Female Rising Star award. The young, lively pace bowler from St John’s SSS Mukono left a strong impression with her performances for her school and the Baby Victoria Pearls while Gerald Olipa won the Male Rising Star Award of the Year for his dominant performance for Busoga College Mwiri during the school’s cricket week.

Wanderers (Men) and Soroti City (Female) won the Cricket Clubs of the Year, Wanderers won the T20 League after 13 years and finished second in the 50 Over League while Soroti City won back-to-back T20 League titles.

The biggest applause of the evening was reserved for Dezilanta Namiggade (Maama Lutaaya) who was awarded the Chairman’s Award for her dedication and service to the game. Smartly clad in a blazer Mama Lutaaya joined cricket as a partner to the Late Mzeei Sonko who was in charge of Kyambogo Cricket Oval since his passing, she stayed around the game with her children serving the game as groundsmen as well but Lutaaya stood out by playing for the Baby Cricket Cranes as well as the Cricket Cranes. Despite age slowing her down she has continued to serve the game diligently and with a lot of humility.

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