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Claire Lamunu

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Claire Lamunu
Kenya Ports Authority women's basketball team
PositionCenter
Personal information
Born24 December 1993
NationalityUgandan
Listed height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Career information
High schoolMount St. Mary's Namagunga
CollegeVanguard University
Playing career2012–present
PositionPower Forward
Coaching career2023–present

Claire Lamunu also known as Claire Gloria Lamunu (born 24 December 1993), is a Ugandan basketball player who plays as a center for the Kenya Ports Authority women's basketball team, commonly known as KPA.[1] She also plays as a forward on the Uganda women's national basketball team, commonly known as the Gazelles.[2][3]

Early life and education

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Lamunu was born to George Ocaya and Filda Ocaya. Her father, George, was a football and basketball player, while her mother, Filda, used to play netball. Lamunu is the 6th born of 10 children.[4]

Education

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Lamunu attended Dade Nursery School in Luzira for her nursery education, St. Kizito Primary School in Bugolobi from primary one to primary three, and St. Angella Primary School in Kisaasi from primary four to primary seven. She attended Mount St. Mary’s Namagunga Secondary School for OLevel & ALevel education. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Bio-Medical Engineering at Makerere University from 2013 to 2015.[4] She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 2017 at Vanguard University.[5]

Personal life

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On 6 February 2022, Lamunu married Kyler Kennedy, whom she had dated since 2018.[6]

Basketball career

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Lamunu started playing basketball at Mount St. Mary's Namagunga Secondary School, where she also participated in other games like handball, football, volleyball, hockey, and netball.[4] She played for the Gulu Hawkes basketball team in 2008 before joining the Gladiators basketball club in 2012.[4]

Gladiators

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In 2012, Lamunu's basketball career debuted when the Gladiators basketball club played against the Makerere University basketball team, also known as MUK Sparks. This marked the beginning of her competitive basketball career, earning her the nickname "Little Gazelle."[4]

Gazelles

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In 2014, Lamunu was part of the Gazelles team that won the 2014 Afrobasket qualifiers.[3] She has since been part of the Uganda Women’s National Basketball team, where she made appearances at the 2014 FIBA 3X3 World Championships, 2018 FIBA 3X3 World Cup, 2019 FIBA 3X3 World Cup qualifiers, 2019 FIBA 3X3 World Cup, and 2025 Women's Afrobasket tournament. [7][8][5][9]

KCCA

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Lamunu played joined the Kampala City Council Authority women's basketball team, also known as the KCCA Leopards in 2013. In 2014, she was named the 2014 FIBA Afrobasket Zone V Most Valuable Player, the 2014 National Basketball League finals Most Valuable Player, and the 2014 Uganda Sports Press Association Female Basketball Player of the Year.[10]KCCA Leopards won the 2014 Pepsi Women's National Basketball League, where Lamunu was named the best player on the team and Most Valuable Player.[11]

Vanguard University

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Lamunu traveled to the US in 2015 after being awarded a four-year basketball scholarship at the Vanguard University of Southern California. Lamunu not only played college basketball, but she also pursued a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry. She was in her third year, pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering at Makerere University.[12] While at Vanguard University, she was once named the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) player of the week,[13] which helped Vanguard University make it to the NAIA Division 1 final four. She was selected WBCA NAIA Player of the Year, WBCA All-NAIA Player of the Year and voted to the NAIA Division I All-Championship 1st Team.[14] Lamunu was named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association player of the year for the 2026-2017 season in her senior year at Vanguard. [11]

Boa Viagem-Angra-Acore

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Lamunu was signed by Portuguese top league (Liga Feminina) side Boa Viagem-Angra-Acore for the 2017-2018 season, during which she won four awards.[14][11]

Finland Kouvottaret

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From Portugal, she moved to Finland's Kouvottaret, where COVID-19 disrupted her two-year deal. [11][15]

Kenya Ports Authority

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Lamunu is currently playing for the Kenya Ports Authority basketball club as their center.[16]

Coaching career

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Lamunu coached Azusa Pacific University’s Women's Basketball team in 2023.[3]

Awards and recognitions

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  • Nationals (Uganda) Best Rebounder- 2011[17]
  • National (Uganda) Qualifiers Top Scorer- 2011[17]
  • Zuku (Uganda) University Basketball League Finals- 2014[17]
  • MVP and Best Defensive Player -2014[17]
  • FIBA Afrobasket Zone V MVP -2014[10]
  • National Basketball League finals MVP- 2014[10]
  • Uganda Sports Press Association Female Basketball Player of the Year 2014[10]
  • Best player on the team and Most Valuable Player -2014[11]
  • Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award winner for the national team- 2015[10]
  • Uganda Gazelles in the Zone 5 Club Championships - 2015[10]
  • Makerere University at the Inter-University Games- 2015
  • WBCA NAIA Player of the Year- 2017[14]
  • WBCA All-NAIA Player of the Year- 2017[14]
  • Voted to NAIA Division I All-Championship 1st Team- 2017[14]
  • Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) player of the week - 2017[13]

References

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  1. ^ "KPA crush Equity to reclaim Zone 5 crown". www.michezoafrika.com. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  2. ^ Baluku, Chrispus (2025-07-09). "Gazelles head to Egypt for final tune-up ahead of AfroBasket 2025". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  3. ^ a b c Kawalya, Brian (2023-07-24). "We Have To Play Hard, Smart - Claire Lamunu". SportsNation. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  4. ^ a b c d e Isabirye, David (2015-04-05). "KNOW YOUR STARS: Basketball ace Claire Lamunu on her success script, Love Life". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  5. ^ a b Eurobasket. "Claire Lamunu, Basketball Player, News, Stats - Afrobasket". Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  6. ^ Reporter, NewVision (2022-02-08). "Basketball star Claire Lamunu gets hitched". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  7. ^ Kawalya, Brian (2025-07-21). "Claire Lamunu Joins Gazelles Camp Ahead of Women's Afrobasket". SportsNation. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  8. ^ "Gazelles win two, miss World Cup qualification in Puerto Rico". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  9. ^ Mugalu, Jeremiah (2025-07-21). "Natuhereza happy with Gazelles' Progress as Lamunu joins camp". Nnalubaale Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Lamunu joins Banguard University". New Vision. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  11. ^ a b c d e "KCCA count on Lamunu". Monitor. 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  12. ^ "Lamunu Joins US University On Basketball Scholarship :". Uganda Radionetwork. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  13. ^ a b Muyita, Joel (2017-01-10). "Claire Lamunu Named GSAC Player of the Week". ChimpReports. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  14. ^ a b c d e Kaweru, Franklin (2017-06-15). "Lamunu goes pro with Portuguese side Boa Viagem". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2025-07-23.
  15. ^ "Miracle's Cherotich Looks Up To Lamunu". Sports Ocean Uganda. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  16. ^ "Claire Lamunu - Uganda - Player Profile - FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 Qualifiers | FIBA Basketball". www.fiba.basketball. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
  17. ^ a b c d "Claire Lamunu - 2016-17 - Women's Basketball". Vanguard University. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
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