Ugandan · Rumbek, South Sudan · Born 3 January 1997South Sudanese-born Ugandan shooter who fled civil war as a child and became the leading goalscorer at the 2023 World Cup, helping the She Cranes to their best-ever finish.
Mary Cholhok Nuba was born on 3 January 1997 in Rumbek, South Sudan. She lost her father at age five and fled civil conflict with her mother, five siblings and uncle to Uganda at age six, growing up as a refugee facing poverty and pressure to marry young because of her exceptional height. She was discovered playing netball for the first time during a sports hour at secondary school, having previously played basketball, and earned a scholarship to St Mary's High School. Standing 201cm tall, Cholhok made her Uganda debut around 2018 and moved to England in December 2018 to study at Loughborough University, signing for Loughborough Lightning in 2019 as the second professional netballer from Uganda, becoming the club's top scorer and winning back-to-back Netball Super League titles. She represented Uganda at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where the She Cranes finished fifth after beating South Africa, and was the leading goalscorer at the 2023 World Cup in Cape Town with 185 goals, scoring 29 in a 49-47 win over hosts South Africa to help Uganda to a historic best-ever fifth-place finish. Cholhok balances her career with motherhood, having given birth to her son Yasson while still at school in Uganda, and has spoken openly about the sacrifices of representing her country and playing professionally in the UK while apart from him. She was part of Uganda's bronze medal-winning squad at the 2024 Fast5 Netball World Series in Christchurch, and signed with Australia's Queensland Firebirds in Super Netball for the 2025 season.
Fleeing civil war as a refugee child and becoming the leading goalscorer at the 2023 World Cup, helping Uganda to their best-ever finish
How They Played
Towering, powerful goal shooter whose height and reach under the post make her one of the most physically dominant shooters in the sport
Lasting Impact
A powerful symbol of resilience for Ugandan and South Sudanese athletes, and one of only a handful of Ugandan players to build a professional netball career in England and Australia
Career Honours
- Leading goalscorer at the 2023 Netball World Cup (185 goals)
- Uganda's historic 5th-place World Cup finish 2023 (best-ever)
- 2x Netball Super League title winner (Loughborough Lightning)
- Fast5 Netball World Series Bronze 2024
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| NIC Netball Club | 2017–2018 | — |
| Loughborough Lightning | 2019–2024 | — |
| Queensland Firebirds | 2025–2026 | — |
Ugandan Athletes