Written By | Alex Mbamanya
Maxine Anyango (R) with national team coach Mark Natuhereza and another teammate after winning a zonal basketball title
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Sports Desk
The Uganda secondary schools sports fraternity on Thursday woke up to the shocking news of the passing of young basketball player Maxine Anyango Modesta.
Anyango, 18, who was a student-athlete at St Noa Girls School in Wakiso, was announced dead after being admitted for surgery following a knee injury.
With the entire sports world in Uganda, across the continent, and the International School Sport Federation (ISF) in shock, the ongoing national USSSA boys’ football championship in Lira had all players wearing black armbands, while a minute of silence preceded kick-offs.
Fallen: Maxine Anyango Modesty
The sad news was first announced by St Noa Girls School on Thursday morning, sending the entire Uganda sports family into mourning.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved student and friend, Anyango Maxine,” the school posted.
Different sports families, including the national women’s basketball team, the Gazelles, also condoled with the family.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Maxine Anyango Modesta, a Gazelle and student of St Noa, who passed away earlier today. The basketball world has lost a bright young talent far too soon. Rest in eternal peace, Maxine.”
Maxine Anyango Modesta during ISF basketball championship in China
USSSA and FEASSA president Justus Mugisha also mourned the young player, who had contributed a lot to both the school and the country through school basketball.
“On behalf of USSSA and the school sports fraternity, I convey my heartfelt condolences to St Noa Girls School, the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations, the family of Maxine Modesta Anyango, and the people of Uganda. Maxine Modesta Anyango represented St Noa Girls School in USSSA competitions and proudly represented Uganda at the ISF World School Basketball Championship,” said Mugisha.
Each time Maxine wore a uniform — whether in USSSA, FEASSA, ISF, the Uganda U18 national team, the Gazelles, or tournaments like Mountain Dew 3x3 — she won gold medals.
That showed how talented and skilled she was, and many regarded her as one of the best Under-18 players Uganda has produced.
Referees and players in the ongoing USSSA boys football in Lira, are wearing balck armbands in respect of departed basketball starlet Maxine Anyango
Anyango was a standout player for St Noa Girls Secondary School and Uganda’s Junior Gazelles national team.
She was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2024 FIBA Zone V Women’s U18 Qualifiers held at Lugogo, where she played a key role in helping Uganda qualify for the continental finals.
She later helped the Junior Gazelles finish fourth at the final tournament in South Africa.
Her impressive performances also earned her a call-up to the senior national team last year by coach Nicholas Natuhereza for the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Zone V Qualifiers in Egypt.
She is reported to have torn her patella tendon during the schools championship and later passed away while undergoing surgery.
Torch Media Africa
