Former national team captain Habib Ssebuguzi was the headline casualty as the curtains came down on a ruthless qualification phase for the National Pool Open Championship.
Ssebuguzi’s push for a place at the finals ended at iTaano Arena in Mukono, where he was swept aside 5–0 by Julius Ssemanda Bisimba in the second round.
The defeat left the experienced cueist outside the top eight and locked out of the elite group heading to Lugogo this weekend.
It was a particularly bitter moment for Ssebuguzi, who also manages the venue, watching his campaign collapse on home tables.
As Ssebuguzi exited, the qualifiers produced a dramatic twist for his Scrap Buyers teammate Lawrence Ssengonge.
Ssengonge had appeared eliminated after losing at Casablanca in Wandegeya, only for his conqueror Bruno Kabuga to be disqualified for double registration.
The ruling reopened the door and handed Ssengonge an unlikely route to the finals.
There was also a feel good return for Alfred Gumikiriza, widely known as Blacksheep.
The Busia based player qualified as the region’s second best, sealing a comeback after missing out last year and reclaiming his place on the national stage.
With the qualifiers settled, focus now shifts to Lugogo Indoor Stadium, where the country’s best cueists will battle it out in the National Pool Open Championship finals this weekend.
