During the basketball tournament held in memory of Kenrik Kabano and his mother, Rosine Kabano, who recently died in a road accident in the United States, among the participants was Eric Gisa Rwigema, the son of the late Maj. Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigema.
The basketball tournament held at Zaria Court on June 26, 2026, featuring 3-on-3 basketball, was organized in memory of Kenrik Kabano, a former member of Rwanda’s Under-18 national basketball team, and his mother, Rosine Kabano, who both died in a road accident in Texas, United States, in April 2026.
The tournament brought together 10 boys’ teams and six girls’ teams and took place at Zaria Court on Friday, June 26, 2026.
The teams that reached the finals in the Under-18 3×3 basketball competition among boys included Intare, Gisimba, Team Rwanda, and Elite Rwanda.
Intare defeated Gisimba 15–10 to reach the final, where they faced Elite Rwanda, which had eliminated Team Rwanda 22–16. In the final, Elite Rwanda defeated Intare 19–10.
The four girls’ teams that reached the final stage were Groupe Scolaire Marie Reine de Rwaza, LDK, ESB Kamonyi, and Igihozo St. Peter.
LDK defeated Groupe Scolaire Marie Reine de Rwaza 15–13 to reach the final, where they faced ESB Kamonyi, which had eliminated Igihozo St. Peter 12–10. In the final, LDK defeated ESB Kamonyi 12–8.
Karenzi Eunice, who represented the Kabano family and was also involved in organizing the tournament, said the event was created to continue the legacy of Kenrik Kabano and his mother.
She said: “He was a young player with ambitions of going far in Rwanda’s national basketball team, and his mother strongly supported him. This tournament is meant to honor their memory, but also to give other young people a chance to pursue their dreams.”
The Executive Director of the Rwanda Basketball Federation (FERWABA), Gahuranyi François Régis, said the tournament will become an annual event and will be expanded to include more teams.
He said:
“This year we wanted the tournament to include teams from the provinces, but we had limited time. Now we want it to be played starting from the provinces and within schools, and then conclude with a final stage for the best-performing teams.”
