The release of plans for Uganda's Cricket Academy and impressive individual performances in the Baroda League domestic competition have provided the big news in Ugandan cricket recently.

Final details for the new Academy were sorted out by ICC Global Development OFficer, Mr. Ross Turner, during his visit to the East African country's capital, Kampala in March.

As a result:
 About six Astro turf wickets were laid at the end of April
 The formulation of the Academy syllabus to start in July
 First intake will be in September
 Internees will all be from Uganda, and they will be selected on the basis of their performance in the Uganda Schools' Cricket Week competition in August
 The Annual Equipment scheme for schools development to start this year - ICC will provide cricket equipment for schools every year.

Meanwhile, visiting Kenyan World Cup star, Kennedy Otieno, almost single-handedly guided Tornado CC to the first trophy of the Ugandan season, in its six wicket victory of Premier CC in the final of the Luswata Cup.

Otieno, in Uganda as part of a scheme to improve standards, spearheaded Tornado's reply to Premier's first up reduced total of 215-8, with an innings of 102.

Earlier, Premier, thanks to Bibodi Nehal (68) and Patel Alpesh (52), had compiled 242-8, before its total was reduced as a penalty for slow over-rates in the Tornado innings.

Nehal's innings was a preview of things to come in the main competition, the Baroda League, when he thrashed 198 not out against Jinja and then snared 5-48 in a match Premier won by 54 runs.

John Lubia's 127 for Wanderers, also against Jinja, was the next highest score, followed by Frank Nsubuga's 122 against Wanderers. Nsubuga then nabbed 3-35. Nsubuga underlined his good form with 85 versus Lohana.

Seven Kampala-based clubs and Jinja, situated in the country's east, are contesting this year's league. The seven clubs are: Premier, Africa Cricket Club, Wanderers, Lohana, Kampala Institute, Tornado and Nile.

Uganda will compete in its first ICC Trophy next year as a stand-alone country after an Africanisation policy during the 1990s earned it Associate Membership in 1998.

That policy will have been enhanced by a visit last week from the ICC's Africa Development Officer, Mr. Hoosain Ayob.

Mr. Ayob was in Uganda to conduct a Level 2 cricket coaching course for coaches.

The course targeted secondary school teachers in charge of cricket in their respective schools and volunteers.