The RSVP Guest List of The 2026 Rwabutaza Basketball Classic & Tanzanian Schools Reunion, 2026 Memorial Weekend, May 22-25, 2026, Columbus, Ohio, USA

Rwabutaza VIP Club

October 4, 2025November 9, 2025

Welcome to our 2026 edition of The Rwabutaza Basketball Classic & Reunion, a 3-day weekend of United States Tanzanian men’s and women’s basketball championships and a reunion of Tanzanian diaspora in the United States.

Our Sponsors

Sponsor	Industry	Point of Contact	Sponsorship Package
A Brighter Living LLC	Health Care	Ms. Ummy Mbega	Bronze
KC Land Development Plan	Real Estate	Mr. Khalid Mwinyi	Bronze

Sponsorship Package	Sponsorship Amount	Sponsorship Details
Bronze	$500	Recognition in event program and website.
Silver	$1,000	All the perks from the previous tier, plus social media shout-outs and small logo placement on event materials.
Gold	$2,000	All the perks from the previous tiers, plus medium logo placement, free tickets to the event, and verbal recognition during the event.
Platinum	$5,000	All the perks from the previous tiers, plus large logo placement, a feature in newsletter, and an invitation to a VIP networking opportunity.
Diamond	$10,000	All the perks from the previous tiers, plus naming rights for a specific event element (e.g., a panel, session, or activity).

Our Donors

Donor	Point of Contact	Donation
Ms. Salome Daniel Mashambo	Ms. Salome Daniel Mashambo	To Be Determined
Ms. Edna Ngowi	Ms. Edna Ngowi	To Be Determined

Our VIP Guest List

First Name	Last Name	City	State
–	–	–	–

– Single Night Event VIP Price: $900, with a 25% deposit required to book.
– Admissions: Complimentary entry for up to 5 guests, with skip the line.
– Table and service: A reserved VIP table in a preferred section with prioritized seating.
– Bottle service: Two bottles of premium liquor and standard mixers like soda and juice.

Our Guests of Honor

Guest	Title	Institution	Role
(Classified)	(Classified)	(Classified)	2026 Guest of Honor
Mr. Richard Lupembe	Minister Plenipotentiary, Public Affairs	Embassy of The United Republic of Tanzania, Washington DC	2025 Guest of Honor
Mr. Mhilu Kiluwasha	Chairman	Tanzania Columbus Community Association (TCCA), Columbus, Ohio	2024 Guest of Honor
Mr. Mutta Lubago	Secretary	Tanzania Columbus Community Association (TCCA), Columbus, Ohio	Honorable Guest
Prof. Deo Tungaraza	Elder	Tanzanian Columbus Community	Honorable Guest
Mrs. Frida Tungaraza	Elder	Tanzanian Columbus Community	Honorable Guest
Mr. Sam Mwanga	Elder	Tanzanian Columbus Community	Honorable Guest
Ms. Enid Fisher	Elder	Tanzanian Columbus Community	Honorable Guest
Mr. Godfrey Moshy	Chairman	St. Martin de Porres Catholic Community	Honorable Guest
Mr. Jackson Lyimo	Secretary	Ibada ya Kiswahili Columbus	Honorable Guest
Mr. Frank Mwemezi	Treasurer	Ibada ya Kiswahili Columbus	Honorable Guest
Pastor Donis Nkone	Pastor	All Nations Breakthrough Church	Honorable Guest
Pastor Nnunu Nkone	Pastor	All Nations Breakthrough Church	Honorable Guest
Mr. Yussuf Mecca	Chair	Islamic Community of Tanzanians in Columbus, Ohio	Honorable Guest
Mr. Mohammed Abdallah	Treasurer	Islamic Community of Tanzanians in Columbus, Ohio	Honorable Guest
Pastor Emmanuel Tambwe	Pastor	Jesus Is Hope Ministry	Honorable Guest
Mrs. Neema Tambwe	Pastor	Jesus Is Hope Ministry	Honorable Guest
Ms. Tina Lasway	President	Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America (DICOTA)	Honorable Guest
Mr. Michael T. Mwakilasa	Chair, Board of Trustees	Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America (DICOTA)	Honorable Guest
Mr. Hamza Mrisho	Chairman	Tanzanian Community Organization (TCO), San Franscisco, California	Honorable Guest
Mr. Kwame Kinabo	Chairman	Oregon Tanzanian Association, Oregon	Honorable Guest
Mr. Emil Muta	Chairman	Tanza-Seattle, Seattle, Washington	Honorable Guest
Mr. John Adhero	Chairman	Tanzanian Association of Kansas City (TAKS)	Honorable Guest
Ms. Rahma Kahelo	Chair	Tanzania Association of Wichita, Wichita, Kansas	Honorable Guest
Mr. James Kitia	Chairman	Tanzania Association of Midwest, Chicago, Illinois	Honorable Guest
Mr. Nathan Chiume	Chairman	Tanzanian New York Community	Honorable Guest

Our Athletes

First Name	Last Name	#	Team	Championship
Makayla	Salukele	1	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Theresia Kobelo	Mkangara	2	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Deotila	Kasambo	3	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Magreth Manawa	Mhondo	4	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Salma	Kasambo	5	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Neema Kakoko	Chilewa	6	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Irene	Mshiu	7	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Carine	Akimana	9	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Anjela	Minja	10	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Joy	Lwiza	11	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Carine	Kalokola	12	Mikumi Leopards	Women
Joyce	Temigunga	1	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Sophia	Mkamba	2	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Kierstyn	Liming	3	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Edna	Ngowi	4	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Jamila	Said	5	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Jennifer	Mahemba	6	Zanzibar Sharks	Women
Peter	Bategeki	1	Manyara Vipers	Men
Xavier	Kahube	4	Manyara Vipers	Men
Jerryson	Mutabirwa	1	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Arnold	Kamazima	3	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Akili Lusungu	Msola	5	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Christopher	Chilewa	7	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Sosthenes	Chilewa	8	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Zindo	Msola	9	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
James Karega	Mahemba	11	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Luis	Misabo	12	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Samuel	Muthama	14	Ruaha Wild Dogs	Men
Jonathan	Nyang’oro	1	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Allan	Rwabutaza	2	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Ibrahim Said	Ndula	4	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Gwamaka	Mwambungu	5	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Chrisantus	Kawogo	8	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Dobbins	Nkone	11	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Donis	Nkone, Jr.	12	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Donovan	Nkone	16	Serengeti Hyenas	Men
Gidibo	Tindwa	1	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Rwega	Jordan	2	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Anderson	Mwasele	3	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Atiki Ally	Atiki	4	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Murshid Mudricat	Zuberi	5	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Quraish		6	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Anthony	Jeikanga	8	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Anshuman Deora	Singh	9	Tarangire Pythons	Men
Justin	Chendi	Coach	Tarangire Pythons	Men

Our Alumni

All smiles, Bamron Jonathan Lyimo, Bremer Jonathan Lyimo and Frank Kambira, happy to be reunited once again in Columbus, Ohio.

First Name	Last Name	City	State	Alma Mater
Abdallah	Kiluvia	Dallas	Texas	Azania Secondary School
Ahmed	Said	Columbus	Ohio	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Akili Lusungu	Msola	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
Alban	Mkwawa	Columbus	Ohio	Upanga Primary School
Allan Anthony	Rwabutaza	Columbus	Ohio	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Alnoor	Visram	Albuquerque	New Mexico	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Angila	Magori	Columbus	Ohio	Shaaban Robert Secondary School
Anirudh	Bhaghat	Ann Arbor	Michigan	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Anna	Moshi	Columbus	Ohio	Dakawa Secondary School
Anthony	Mkumbae	Columbus	Ohio	Muhimbili Primary School
Antonia	Kutali	Columbus	Ohio	Jitegemee Secondary School
Benedicta Mathias	Massawe	Springfield	Massachussetts	Dakawa Secondary School
Bhoke Mukami	Kirigiti	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Bremer Jonathan	Lyimo	Durham	North Carolina	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Brenda				St. Mary’s Secondary School
Catherine	Mkumbae	Cary	North Carolina	Dakawa Secondary School
Chrispina	Kessy	Columbus	Ohio	Jangwani Secondary School
Dan Dimo	Mapigano	Columbus	Ohio	Bunge Primary School
Danny	Nyambibo	Columbus	Ohio	Muhimbili Primary School
David	Bocco	Columbus	Ohio	Upanga Primary School
Dennis Mbelwa	Rweikiza	Dallas	Texas	Muhimbili Primary School
Diana	Joseph			St. Mary’s Secondary School
Edgar	Mjengwa	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
Edwin	Mtei			St. Mary’s Secondary School
E. K.	Muzo	Houston	Texas	Muhimbili Primary School
Emmanuel	Korosso	Houston	Texas	Jitegemee Secondary School
Felix	Mkumbae	Columbus	Ohio	Muhimbili Primary School
Flora	Maabadi	Columbus	Ohio	Dakawa Secondary School
Frank	Kambira	Orlando	Florida	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Gillian	Bateyunga	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
Grace	Kambira	Columbus	Ohio	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Gwaii	Thy Word	Detroit	Michigan	St. Mary’s Secondary School
Gwamaka	Kibonde	Detroit	Michigan	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Helen	Ongara	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
Henry	Aaron	Wichita	Kansas	Mlimani Primary School
Hindu	Bakari	Columbus	Ohio	Shaaban Robert Secondary School
Honorata	Moshy	Columbus	Ohio	Dakawa Secondary School
Ignas	Chilewa	Columbus	Ohio	Azania Secondary School
James Karega	Mahemba	Columbus	Ohio	Muhimbili Primary School
Jemimah Ebrahim	Mulokozi	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
John	Kileo	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Joseph Kingu	Malekela	Columbus	Ohio	St. Mary’s Secondary School
Joy	Lwiza	Minneapolis	Minnesota	Upanga Primary School
Joyce	Temigunga	Columbus	Ohio	Zanaki Secondary School
Judith	Kakasa	Columbus	Ohio	Upanga Primary School
Juliana	Maneno	Columbus	Ohio	Zanaki Secondary School
Kaizi	Mwijage	Columbus	Ohio	Shaaban Robert Secondary School
Khalid	Mwinyi	Dar-es-salaam	Tanzania	Azania Secondary School
Kinyemi	Chingalame	Fulton	Maryland	Upanga Primary School
Linus Muki	Buhanza	Columbus	Ohio	Jitegemee Secondary School
Lisbeth Sia	Machangu	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Lucy	Maryogo-Robinson	Gaithersburg	Maryland	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Lusajo	Kibonde	Columbus	Ohio	Tambaza Secondary School
Maiga	Mapigano	Columbus	Ohio	Bunge Primary School
Maryam	Ally	Altoona	Iowa	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Maryam	Rashid			St. Mary’s Secondary School
Michael	Mngodo	Columbus	Ohio	Shaaban Robert Secondary School
Mohammed	Mshindo	Columbus	Ohio	Jitegemee Secondary School
Mkama	Mapigano	Columbus	Ohio	Tambaza Secondary School
Mwelu	Daniel	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Nabeel	Vira	Orlando	Florida	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Nabeela	Alidina	Dallas	Texas	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Neema	Kakoko Chilewa	Columbus	Ohio	Zanaki Secondary School
Neema	Mrisho	Columbus	Ohio	Zanaki Secondary School
Neppo	Saprapasen-Frisch	Westminster	Massachusetts	Dakawa Secondary School
Nsongo				St. Mary’s Secondary School
Nuru	Mosha	New York	New York	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Pamela	Kirigiti	Columbus	Ohio	Oysterbay Primary School
Pamela	Mwailolo	Columbus	Ohio	Bunge Primary School
Paul	Materu	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Paul	Mwaitenda	Columbus	Ohio	Bunge Primary School
Peter	Kirigiti	Columbus	Ohio	Oysterbay Primary School
Peter	Bategeki	Houston	Texas	Muhimbili Primary School
Proscovia Longino	Rwegoshora	Columbus	Ohio	Tambaza Secondary School
Rehema Connie	Kobelo	Columbus	Ohio	Jangwani Secondary School
Richard	Frisch	Westminster	Massachusetts	Oysterbay Primary School
Ritesh “Digi”	Katakia	Orlando	Florida	Shaaban Robert Secondary School
Salama	Madoffe	Columbus	Ohio	Jangwani Secondary School
Ruby	Brown	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Salva	Muhaya	Columbus	Ohio	Jitegemee Secondary School
Sameer	Jessani	Orlando	Florida	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Sandra	Lasway	Columbus	Ohio	Arusha Primary School
Shangwe	Manda	Cincinnati	Ohio	St. Mary’s Secondary School
Shruti	Patel	Savannah	Georgia	International School of Tanganyika (IST)
Sony	Mallya			St. Mary’s Secondary School
Steve	Mutasa	Minneapolis	Minnesota	Oysterbay Primary School
Steve	Rweyemamu	New York	New York	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Teddy	Ngeleja	Columbus	Ohio	Zanaki Secondary School
Theresia Kobelo	Mkangara	Columbus	Ohio	Jangwani Secondary School
Tito	Zablon	Dallas	Texas	Muhimbili Primary School
Tumaini	Katule	Columbus	Ohio	Lutheran Junior Seminary
Vicky	Mpatwa	Cincinnati	Ohio	Jangwani Secondary School
Vivian	Maregesi			St. Mary’s Secondary School
Yahya S. B.	Yahya	Detroit	Michigan	Upanga Primary School
Yasmin	Mussa	Columbus	Ohio	St. Mary’s Secondary School
Zafrina Dharamsi	Vellani	Richmond	Texas	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School
Zeeshan	Vira	Orlando	Florida	Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School

Our Wildcards

First Name	Last Name	City	State
Barry “Borri”	Bass	Columbus	Ohio
Cuthbert Mario	Mahenge	Columbus	Ohio
Dave	Kezegule	Columbus	Ohio
Delphina	Rutashubirwa	Columbus	Ohio
Deo	Ngassa	Wichita	Kansas
Deo	Temba	Los Angeles	California
Emmanuel	Mugogo	Columbus	Ohio
Eva	Kiwelu	Columbus	Ohio
Evans	Kyzrahabi	Houston	Texas
Fatma “Miss Kigoma”	Mwamba	Columbus	Ohio
Frank	Mutafungwa	Houston	Texas
Geoffrey	Kahube	Kansas City	Kansas
Geoffrey	Mgaya	Columbus	Ohio
Giselle		Columbus	Ohio
Halima Doreen	Mkangara	Columbus	Ohio
Henry	Aaron	Wichita	Kansas
Henry	Tzamburakis	Frederick	Maryland
Ibra	Madega	Atlanta	Georgia
Janitha	Rippy	Columbus	Ohio
Joas	Mutabirwa	Columbus	Ohio
John	Kilango	Columbus	Ohio
Lillian	Kavishe	Columbus	Ohio
Lisareine	Kamazima	Columbus	Ohio
Monica	Kuzilwa	Columbus	Ohio
Ntainena Davies	Simumba	Columbus	Ohio
Omari	Mshindo	Columbus	Ohio
Ruth	Kiluwasha	Columbus	Ohio
Vivian Moshi	Mwasandube	Columbus	Ohio
Wanja	Wanderi	Columbus	Ohio

Our Leadership

First Name	Last Name	Role
Allan Anthony	Rwabutaza	Chair, Executive Committee
Jackson	Lyimo	Secretary, Executive Committee
		Event Coordinator, Executive Committee
Joe	Ngwilizi	Board Member, Executive Committee
Frank	Mwemezi	Board Member, Executive Committee
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event A – Friday Opening Night
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event B – Saturday Men’s Basketball Semi-Finals
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event C – Saturday Nyama Choma BBQ
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event D – Saturday Night Tanzanian Schools Reunion Black Suit Ball
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event E – Sunday Basketball Championship Finals
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event F – Sunday Nyama Choma BBQ
		Vice Event Coordinator – Event G – Sunday Night Tanzanian Schools Reunion White Party
		DJ
		DJ
		DJ
Suzana	Mchao	Basketball Championships Host
Morine	Mwalujuwa	Basketball Championships Host
Ian	Lyatuu	Basketball Championships DJ
Joseph Kingu	Malekela	Basketball Championships Official
Paul	Materu	Basketball Championships Official
Frank	Mwemezi	Basketball Championships Statistician
Hans	Lundenga	Basketball Championships Statistician
Yuliks Ulinda	Ally	Basketball Championships Statistician
Jeniffer	Mutabirwa	Basketball Championships Statistician
Leticia	Mutabirwa	Basketball Championships Statistician
Salva	Muhaya	Photographer
		Photographer
		Videographer
		Videographer
		Videographer

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