Uganda have secured their place in a global cricket tournament for the first time, beating Rwanda in African qualifying to clinch a place at next year's Twenty20 World Cup.

The country of 50 million in East Africa got into the expanded 20-team competition - being co-hosted by West Indies and the United States in June 2024 - at the expense of six-time qualifiers Zimbabwe.

Uganda beat Zimbabwe by five wickets on Sunday for their maiden win over a full member team in a T20 international, and followed up by dismissing Rwanda for 65 before comfortably reaching their target in 8.1 overs in Windhoek, Namibia.

It led to overjoyed celebrations from the Ugandan team, who were making history even though players from that country did feature in the 1975 East Africa team at a World Cup.

Namibia have also advanced through African qualifying to complete a line-up that also contains Oman, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Canada.

The United States qualify as a host country.

Uganda have been an associate member of governing body the International Cricket Council since 1998 but do not have Test or one-day international status.

It was, though, another blow for the favourites Zimbabwe, who also didn't qualify for the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups after failing to finish in the top two in home-based qualifying tournaments.

They also couldn't play in the 2021 T20 World Cup, because Zimbabwe Cricket had been suspended at the time by the ICC for government interference in its cricket administration.