JKL Lady Dolphins forward Brenda Ekone was on Saturday named the best of 2022 at the end of year Fortebet Real Star Awards.

At a brief but colorful ceremony at Garden City Rooftop, Ekone was as announced as the winner ahead of long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo and Rally driver Ponsiano Lwakataka.

Despite falling short of helping her JKL side retain the Women NBL title after game seven loss to UCU, Ekone has had a consistent year.

She has been nominated on five occasions at the Real Stars monthly awards, winning twice in August and September.

She, for another season running, finished as the league’s top scorer with 534 points, averaging 17.8 per game this concluded season.

Ekone briefly commented: “I feel so so happy to have won this, it’s very encouraging and hopefully next year I come back for more.”

The event attracted a couple of dignitaries including NCS chairman Ambrose Tashobya: “I want to thank the Organisers for coming up with this, it’s good to be rewarded and I treasure my certificates, the ones I won during my playing (basketball) days so much.”

“As Government, we are looking at how best we can enumerate our athletes, and that’s one thing on top of our agenda.

“We want to ensure that athletes are rewarded so that they can transform into good citizens of our society, and they can inspire the new generation.”

On the evening, the best personalities for the month of November were also rewarded.

Sandra Nambirige (KCCA, Netball), Titus Ssematimba (Wakiso Giants, Football), Godfrey Nsubuga (Mehta Club, Golf), Beth Nagadya (Ludo), Lucy Akello (Deliverance, Hockey) and Titus Odeke Lual (City Oilers, Basketball) were the respective winners.

Isaac Mukasa, the proprietor of the awards, commended his sponsors Fortebet and Jude Colour Solutions before congratulating the winners.