Mountain Dew UG3x3 Series Returns with Bigger Prize Purse for 2025 Edition
By Kayiira Jackson
The 2025 Mountain Dew UG3x3 Basketball Series has officially been launched, promising a bigger and more rewarding competition for Uganda’s young basketball talents. This year’s edition will feature increased prize money at every stage of the nationwide tournament.
Following the success of its inaugural season last year, Mountain Dew, in partnership with Red Rhino Sports and the Federation of Uganda Basketball Associations (FUBA), announced that the series will have four regional stops — in Mukono, Mbarara, Kampala, and Gulu — before culminating in a grand finale in Kampala on December 13, 2025.
Each stop will carry a total prize pool of UGX 2 million, with the winning men’s and women’s teams each pocketing UGX 500,000, while the runners-up walk away with UGX 200,000. The winners from all four stops will automatically qualify for the national final, where the stakes rise even higher — the top teams will each win UGX 2 million, and runners-up will bag UGX 1 million. In the Inaugural edition the winners at different stops pocketed 400,000/-.
Mountain Dew Brand Manager Grace Namutebi said the brand is proud to increase its support for the fast-growing urban sport.
“Mountain Dew is an urban, hip brand that has always been associated with basketball. We’re excited to bring this 3×3 series closer to the grassroots and make it even more rewarding for the players and fans,” Namutebi said during the launch.
Red Rhino Sports Director Samuel Akwech emphasized that the series offers a vital platform for young athletes to compete and showcase their talent.
“This tournament gives youth a chance to develop, entertain fans, and win great prizes. We’re thrilled to be back with Mountain Dew for another edition that highlights the best of Uganda’s emerging basketball talent,” Akwech noted.
FUBA CEO Marcus Kwikiriza welcomed the series as a key step in advancing Uganda’s basketball ambitions.
“3×3 basketball is a crucial pathway for Uganda’s growth in the sport. With continued investment and exposure through such events, we believe we can develop talent capable of competing at the Olympics,” he said.
The 2025 series will be open to players under 25 years, with each team comprising four members. Teams must include at least two Ugandan nationals and can have a maximum of two National Basketball League players. Registration for the first circuit in Mukono, scheduled for November 15, 2025, is already underway.
For starters, St. Noa Girls and Cole World are the reigning champions in female and male categories respectively.
With bigger rewards and a nationwide reach, the Mountain Dew UG3x3 Series promises an even more exciting showcase of Uganda’s rising basketball stars.