Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main campus - Samuel Agutu loves basketball more than anything else.

The Kenyan professional basketball player, who plays as a small forward for the KIU Titans in the Ugandan National Basketball League, says there is nothing else that allows him to express himself more than basketball. 

The 28-year-old started playing basketball in primary school back home in Mombasa. He was in class 5 at Sacred Heart Primary School but he left for Shimo la Tewa High School still in Mombasa, before leaving Kenya for Ssaku Senior School in Luweero, Uganda for A' level. 

It is at Ssaku Senior School that Agutu won his first-ever championship in 2012. He also emerged as Most Valuable Player and Buzz Award winner at the same time.

He joined KIU Titans in 2013 while still in his S.6 vacation before enrolling for a Bachelor of Business Computing at KIU. He was part of the Titans team that finished second in the National Basketball League in 2017.

He had a short stint at Kenya Ports Authority Basketball Club in 2016 before returning to the Titans. He then left KIU Titans for Vijana Basketball Club at the end of 2018 before signing for Betway Power Basketball club in 2019. His progress at all these clubs was curtailed by injury and he never really had the chance to make a major impact, despite his immense talent.

Agutu rejoined KIU Titans in March 2021,  signing a two-year contract in a bid to win his first Uganda National Basketball League title. 
Though Agutu has not yet got the chance to play for the national team, he is hopeful that he will be a national hero one day. 

Quoting his big brother- a former basketball player – and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, Agutu hopes to play on the big stage, and win as many personal and team accolades as possible.

Picture credit: Internet photo