From football striker to basketball icon: The journey of Alex Onen

Many in Sports Club Villa’s junior team circles first recognized Alex Onen for his early promise in football as a striker.

He later transitioned to refereeing, despite also enjoying a stint with the Paidha Black Angels in the Super Mini League during the 2001-2002 season.

Having played for the Jogoo Young under the late coaches David Otti and Paul Hasule, Onen’s love for the game was on course, but his education needs could not allow him to grow into the senior team, which is why he later ventured into refereeing.

But that was also cut short when, in the early 2000s, as he officiated a Masaza Cup match between Buruli and Gomba in Nasongola, fans ganged up and beat up the match officials after he awarded a penalty to visiting Gomba in about the 70th minute, which did not go well with the Buruli fans, who caused chaos and caused an abandonment.

“It was chaotic; one of my assistant referees left the venue with broken ribs,” Onen remembers.

After that debacle, Federation of Uganda Basketball Association (FUBA) referee Edmond Lumu advised him to join the basketball umpires, and since then, he has never looked back.

Onen has since built a distinguished career in basketball, becoming one of Uganda’s most respected coaches and referees, a transition he does not regret, in what is a story of passion, discipline, and unwavering commitment to nurturing talent across schools, clubs, and the national stage.

A teacher by profession, his sports career stands out as a major testimony that one’s gift can truly lift him up, as the faithful always reference the holy writings. Few in Uganda boast a career as balanced and impactful as that of coaching and refereeing. His is a journey to basketball prominence that demonstrates versatility, resilience, and a deep love for sport.

Coach Onen often juggled the rigors of teaching history and religious studies with full-scale basketball engagement, thereby leaving a mark on some of Uganda’s prominent secondary schools and institutions.

Over the years, he has shaped, mentored, and elevated basketball programs at St. Michael High School, Sonde; Crane High School, Kitintale; Seeta High School; Seroma Christian High School; St. Balikudembe SS, Kisoga; and Kabojja International School.

At each of these institutions, he was not just a coach but a mentor, instilling discipline, teamwork, and a winning mentality in young athletes. Many players have gone on to compete at higher levels, a testament to his ability to identify and develop raw talent.

Notable among these are Agatha Kamwada, a national team and JKL Dolphins star; Ronald Ayume of the Victoria University team, both from Seeta High School; Amini Mkosa, from Seroma Christian High School, now a professional basketballer in Malawi; and Edgar Munaba, who plays for the City Oilers.

Schools like Seroma gained prominence in sports on the shoulders of great coaches like Onen. The pinnacle of Coach Onen’s coaching success so far came in 2023, when he served as head coach of the UPDF Lady Tomahawks.

Under his leadership, the team delivered a sensational campaign, emerging as champions of the lower division and earning promotion to the National Basketball League (NBL) after finishing unbeaten.

This achievement was widely celebrated within basketball circles, not only for the title but also for showcasing Alex’s tactical brilliance, player management skills, and ability to build a competitive unit under pressure. In addition to coaching, Coach Onen has built an impressive profile as a basketball referee.

He served as vice president of the Uganda Basketball Referees Association and is a FIBA Zone 5 referee, a credential that places him among the region's elite officials.

His whistle has been heard in National School and University competitions, Parliamentary games, Top-tier league matches across East Africa, the Africa Inter-City games, and the East Africa military games.

Known for his fairness, composure, and deep understanding of the rules, Coach Onen is widely respected by players, coaches, and officials alike. As Ugandan basketball continues to grow, people like Onen remain central to its success, developing the next generation, upholding the integrity of the game, and raising standards.

He is an inspiration to Ugandan youth not to underestimate talent and individual skill above academic competencies and qualifications. He has not been seen at courts, training sessions, or on officiating schedules lately, and the hope is that he will continue to groom more youngsters into the next Onens.