Mission: To raise awareness about health, fitness, and wellness, highlighting the importance and benefits of physical activity, teamwork, unity, peace and collaboration; and encourage individuals to live healthy, active and productive lives.

Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 (The Saturday of the Memorial Day Weekend).

Time: 12:00 pm SHARP – 3:00 pm SHARP. If you come at 2:55 pm or later, the event will be over by then, and we will be gone.

Location: Rep Field House- New Albany, 5524 N Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH 43230.

Ticket (Entrance Fee): $0.00 (Free) – If you are planning to attend, please register by clicking the “Register” button up above under this page’s title. This helps us in planning for security, crowd control and attendance capacity.

Event Description:
The Rwabutaza Basketball Classic is a Tanzanian basketball tournament in Columbus, Ohio whose mission is to raise awareness about health, fitness, and wellness and to highlight the importance and benefits of physical activity and encourage individuals to live healthy, productive, and active lives. It is a two game basketball tournament to be held from 12:00 pm NOON SHARP until 3:00 pm SHARP on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in an indoor basketball gymnasium at Rep Field House- New Albany, 5524 N Hamilton Rd, Columbus, OH 43230. The first game will be the Over 17 Women’s Finals Game between Mikumi Leopards and Zanzibar Sharks, and the last game will be the Over 17 Men’s Finals Game between Ruaha Wild Dogs and Serengeti Hyenas.

Guest Of Honor: _________________

Event Coordinator:1. Dr. Allan Anthony Rwabutaza.

Hosts:
1. Morine Mwalujuwa.
2. Suzan Mchao.

Guest of Honor’s Table:
1. Eva Kiwelu.
2. Mohammed Abdalla.

DJ’s:
1. Ian Lyatuu.

Official Photographers:
1. Salva Muhaya.

Official Videographers:
1. Salva Muhaya.

Basketball Equipment and Gear Managers

(All Players In Full Jerseys, 2+ Basketballs, 2+ Whistles, Stop Watches, Two Referees’ Striped Shirts, Statistics Sheets, Guest of Honor Table,  Officials Tables and Chairs (2), Spectators’ Benches and Chairs, Women’s Champions Trophy, Men’s Champions Trophy, Women’s MVP Trophy, Men’s MVP Trophy):
1. ______________.
2. ______________.

The 2026 Rwabutaza Basketball Classic Event Schedule (Please Arrive On Time):

Time	Event Item
11:30 am-12:00 pm	Arrival of Players, Guests and Guest of Honor.
12:00 pm-12:15 pm	Hosts: Opening The Event, Welcoming and Introducing The Guest of Honor, Introducing Some Tanzanian Community Elders and Leaders In Attendance.
12:15 pm-12:17 pm	One-Minute Moment of Silence- Rest In Peace David Mbaga, Community Member, Our Friend, Our Family and Head Coach of Ruaha Wild Dogs.
12:17 pm-12:25 pm	Pre-Game Team Photos of All 4 Teams: All Coaches and Players In Their Complete Team Jerseys.
12:25 pm-12:35 pm	Game 1, Over 17 Women’s Game, Player Introductions.
12:35 pm-12:40 pm	DJ: US National Anthem.
12:40 pm-12:45 pm	DJ: Tanzanian National Anthem.
12:45 pm-12:50 pm	Guest of Honor Speech.
12:50 pm-1:30 pm	Game 1- Over 17 Women’s Finals Game: Mikumi Leopards vs. Zanzibar Sharks.
1:30 pm-1:40 pm	Game 2, Over 17 Men’s Finals Game, Player Introductions.
1:40 pm-2:40 pm	Game 2- Over 17 Men’s Finals Game: Ruaha Wild Dogs vs. Serengeti Hyenas.
2:40 pm-2:50 pm	Guest of Honor: Presentation of Championship Trophies and Awards.
2:50 pm-2:55 pm	Champions and Award Winners: Post-Game Team Photos.
2:55 pm-3:00 pm	Chairman’s Gratitude Remarks and Closing The Event.

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GAME 1- OVER 17 WOMEN: MIKUMI LEOPARDS  VS. ZANZIBAR SHARKS

Game’s Time Format: 2 Halves of 15 Minutes of Stoppage Time In Each Half of Regulation; and 5 Minutes of Additional Overtime Periods In Case of A Tie Until A Winner Is Found. There is a 5 minute break between each half.

Officials:
Referee 1: Joseph Kingu Malekela.
Referee 2: Paul Materu.
Score Keeper: Jennifer Mutabirwa.
Time Keeper: Jennifer Mutabirwa.

Judges For Most Valuable Player (MVP)
1. ______________.
2. ______________.
3. ______________.
4. ______________.
5. ______________.

Statisticians
1. Frank Mwemezi (Points)
2. Yuliks Ulinda Ali (Rebounds)
3. Hans Lundenga (Assists)
4. Leticia Mutabirwa (Steals)
5. Linus Muki Buhanza (Blocks)
6. Linus Muki Buhanza (Fouls)

WOMEN’S TEAMS:
1. MIKUMI LEOPARDS (Gold/Black Colors) 

Head Coach: _________________.

Starting Lineup:
1. Makayla Salukele- 1 (Point Guard)
2. Neema Kakoko Chilewa- 6 (Shooting Guard)
3. Deotila Kasambo- 3 (Small Forward)
4. Dr. Theresia Kobelo Mkangara- 2 (Power Forward)
5. Salma Kasambo- 5 (Center)

Reserves:
6. Irene Mshiu- 7 (Shooting Guard)
7. Grace Kambira- 4 (Power Forward)
8. Hafsa Reasoner- 8 (Small Forward)

Absentee Reserves:
9. Salama Madoffe- 14 (Shooting Guard)

2. ZANZIBAR SHARKS (Colombia Blue/White Color) 

Head Coach: ______________.
Starting Lineup:
1. Kierstyn Liming- 3 (Point Guard)
2. Joyce Temigunga- 1 (Shooting Guard)
3. Edna Ngowi- 4 (Small Forward)
4. Jennifer Mahemba- 7 (Power Forward)
5. Jamila Said- 5 (Center)

Reserves:
6. Sophia Mkamba- 2 (Guard)

Absentee Reserves:
7. Yvonne Makundi- 6 (Forward)

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GAME 2- OVER 17 MEN: RUAHA WILD DOGS VS SERENGETI HYENAS

Game’s Time Format: 4 Quarters of 10 Minutes of Stoppage Time In Each Quarter of Regulation; and 5 Minutes of Additional Overtime Periods In Case of A Tie Until A Winner Is Found. There is a 1 minute break between each quarter, but the half time break is 5 minutes.

Officials:
Referee 1: Joseph Kingu Malekela
Referee 2: Paul Materu
Score Keeper: Jennifer Mutabirwa
Time Keeper: Hans Lundenga

Statisticians
1. Frank Mwemezi (Points)
2. Yuliks Ulinda Ali (Rebounds)
3. Leticia Mutabirwa (Assists)
4. Leticia Mutabirwa (Steals)
5. Linus Muki Buhanza (Blocks)
6. Linus Muki Buhanza (Fouls)

MEN’S TEAMS:
1. RUAHA WILD DOGS (Red Color)

Head Coach: ______________________.
Starting Lineup:
1. Jerryson Mutabirwa- 1 (Guard)
2. Christopher Chilewa- 7 (Guard)
3. Oscar Kamazima- 2 (Forward)
4. Arnold Kamazima- 3 (Forward)
5. Luis Misabo- 12 (Forward)

Reserves:
6. Sosthenes “Babu” Chilewa- 8 (Guard)
7.  Zindo Msola- 9 (Guard)
8. James Karega Mahemba-11 (Guard)
9. Lusungu “Akili” Msola- 5 (Center)

Absentee Reserves:
10. Linus Muki Buhanza- 4 (Forward).
11. Samuel Aliko Mwakabonga-10 (Guard)

====================

2. SERENGETI HYENAS (Royal Blue Color)

Head Coach: Peter Kirigiti.
Starting Lineup:
1. Dobbins Nkone- 11 (Point Guard)
2. Donovan Nkone- 14 (Shooting Guard)
3. Doudley Jaboin- 9 (Small Forward)
4. Ibrahim Said Ndula- 4 (Power Forward)
5. Donis Nkone, Jr.- 12 (Center)

Reserves:
6. Chrisantus Kawogo- 8 (Guard)
7. Jonathan Nyang’oro- 1 (Guard)
8. Dr. Allan Rwabutaza- 2 (Guard)
9.  Mkama Mapigano- 14 (Forward)
10. Gwamaka Mwambungu-5 (Center)

Absentee Reserves:
11. Elijah Mashambo- 3 (Guard)
12. Jomari Pacas- 10 (Guard)
13. Peter Msami- 15 (Center)

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Welcome! Karibu!