MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited and the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) have announced a partnership to give fans a cashless and seamless Rugby Africa Cup experience.

The partnership was announced on Monday at Mandela National Stadium – Namboole, the host venue for the Africa Cup, graced by officials from URU and MTN MoMo.

As part of the partnership, tickets to access matches have been discounted when purchased using MTN MoMo.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Uganda Rugby Union for the Rugby Africa Cup 2024. By offering exclusive discounts and seamless ticket purchasing through the MoMo App, we aim to provide rugby fans with an unparalleled experience,” said Alex Wekoye, the Chief Commercial Officer of MTN MoMo.

It's #RugbyAfricaCup2024 week! 🏉

Let's rally behind our boys! 🇺🇬 Get your discounted ticket(s) now on the MoMo App 👉🏽 https://t.co/dLOn2LqqP5 or dial *165*20# and let's fill the stadiums with energy! #BuyTicketsWithMoMo pic.twitter.com/4HqsDIL9p8

— MoMo from MTN Uganda (@mtnmomoug) July 15, 2024

The discounts will extend even to beverages and national team merchandise sold during the tournament.

“Most important for us is that we want to give [a good] experience to fans out there. We want to digitize the experience around the way they pay to watch matches and also buy merchandise whether it’s a jersey or they just want to buy a beverage.

“We will also enhance connectivity around the venues so that fans around there can enjoy social moments whether it’s taking pictures, videos and socializing with their communities quite easily,” Wekoye added.

Uganda Rugby Union CEO Isaac Lutwama said the partnership is only the first step for bigger things to come.

“This [partnership] is only but the first step, we are looking at growing it into other competitions of the union. We are looking at co-creating a really vibrant and viable partnership between Uganda Rugby Union and MTN MoMo,” Lutwama said.

Eight countries Burkina Faso, Namibia, Senegal, Kenya, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Zimbabwe, and Uganda, the host nation, will compete in the tournament which is the first phase of the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers.

Uganda Rugby Sevens have been crowned the Rugby Africa Sevens champions after beating South Africa in the final played at Labourdonnais Sports Club.

Uganda defeated South Africa, 20-15, thanks to an extra-time try from tournament MVP Aaron Ofoywroth.

The Rugby Cranes assume a 10-00 lead in the first half thanks to tries from Denis Etwau and Alex Aturinda. South Africa pulled one back before Etwau added another for Uganda at the stroke of halftime for a 15-05 lead.

South Africa controlled the bigger part of the second half and scored two tries with the second converted to take a 17-15 lead. Ofoyrwoth would then lead Ugaanda’s search for the winner and the playmaker delivered on the final play with the clock in the red zone.

It’s Uganda’s fourth continental sevens crown following success in 2016 (Nairobi) as well as 2017 and 2022 (both in Kampala). Philip Wokorach and Adrian Kasito have been part of all four African titles alongside head coach Tolbert Onyango.

By reaching the semifinal of Round Two, Uganda earned a ticket to compete in the 2025 Challenger Series, for a chance to be on the 2026 Main HSBC SVNS.

Focus for Uganda Rugby will now shift to the Africa 15s tournament that will be hosted in Kampala at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole under two weeks away.

Uganda swept through Pool A of the Second Round of the 2023 Africa Men’s Sevens on Saturday at Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mapou, Mauritius.

A coincidental draw saw Tolbert Onyango’s charges take on Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso again and they continued to assert their dominance over their opponents in the pool play as they did last weekend.

• Game 1: Uganda 36-00 Tunisia
• Game 2: Uganda 29-14 Cote d’Ivoire
• Game 3: Uganda 14-10 Burkina Faso

Uganda sailed over Tunisia without conceding a single point. Denis Etwau led the beat down with four tries while Aaron Ofoyrwoth and Adrian Kasito scored a try each.

Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso competed well, especially the latter as they both put points on the board.

Ofoyrwoth scored a brace with the other tries coming from Etwau, Pius Ogen and Alex Aturinda ass the Rugby Cranes overpowered Cote d’Ivoire

However, Burkina Faso went neck and neck with Uganda, keeping the Rugby Cranes scoreless in the second half but Kasito and Alex Aturinda’s converted first-half tries were enough to get over the line.

The Rugby Cranes will battle Zambia in the quarterfinals tomorrow (Sunday) morning as they continue their quest for a fourth African title.

Uganda Rugby Cranes star Phillip Wokorach has signed for another Fench side Orleans Rugby Club.

Wokorach joins the Nationale 2 Division side on an initial two-year deal that runs until the summer of 2026.

“I chose the RCO for the ambition of the club and the interesting project and the excellent season they just had,” said Philip Wokorach about moving to RCO.

Phillip Wokorach joins RCO from A.S.B.C (Avenir Sportif de Bédarrides Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vaucluse Rugby) where he has been over the last four years.

The full-back played for Heathens in the local league before going semipro in France.

Wokorach is currently with Uganda’s National Sevens team playing at the Africa Sevens Cup in Mauritius chasing a spot in the 2025 Challenger Series.

Uganda’s National Sevens side completed the first round of the Rugby Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius unbeaten.

The Rugby Cranes were crowned winners of Round One after beating Madagascar 31-12 in the final played at Labourdonnais Sports Club.

Aaron Ofoywroth opened the scoring for Uganda with a try in the corner and barely a minute later, the Rugby Cranes were over for the second try through Adrian Kasito that Philip Wokorach converted for a 12-00 lead.

However, Tolbert Onyango’s men were caught flat-footed when Madagascar kicked behind the high-line defence and followed through to score.

Ofoywroth had the last say of the first half with his second try of the game to take the lead to 17-05 at the break.

Madagascar had a clean kickoff reclamation to start the second half, scored right under the posts and reduced the gap to 5 (17-12).

Uganda would quickly recover, adding a pair of converted tries through Norbert Okeny and Timothy Kisiga to seal the game 31-12.

The Rugby Cranes are now in prime position heading into the ultimate round next weekend, and the fourth title is on the horizon.

2024 Rugby Africa 7s Standings after Round One (Top 6)

1. Uganda – 20 points
2. Madagascar – 18 points
3. South Africa – 16 points
4. Burkina Faso – 14 points
5. Zimbabwe – 12 points
6. Kenya – 10 points

Uganda Sevens had a flawless start to the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup in Mauritius having won all their three Pool B games at Labourdonnais Sports Club.

The Ugandans recovered from a slow start, twice coming from down to win 22-17 thanks to tries from skipper Munyani, Denis Etwau, Timothy Kisiga and Philip Wokorach.

Uganda returned for the second game with more determination ruthlessly brushing aside Tunisia, 43-00. Nobert Okeny scored a hattrick of tries, Denis Etwau crossed the white chalk twice, while Alex Aturinda and Karim Arinaitwe also grounded for the Rugby Cranes.

Tolbert Onyango’s men beat West Africans Burkina Faso in the ultimate Pool game, 29-00. Timothy Kisiga, Norbert Okeny (brace), Philip Wokorach, and Denis Etwau scored Uganda’s tries.

Action continues on Sunday with the quarterfinals. The opponents will be determined based on the ranking of the 8 qualified teams.

Uganda Rugby Cranes XVs team heads to Pretoria, South Africa for a training camp that includes a series of trial matches in preparation for the upcoming 2024 Rugby Africa Cup.

The Uganda Rugby Union (URU) received an invitation from Harlequins Rugby Club, a member club of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU), under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between URU and BBRU for a Tour of South Africa to play 3 test games.

• 29th June 2024 vs Limpopo Country Districts XV in Modimolle (Nylstroom H/S)
• 2nd July 2024 vs Supa Barbarians in Johannesburg (Pirates Rugby Club)
• 5th July 2024 vs Loftus 200 in Pretoria (Harlequin Rugby Club)

The team was flagged off on Wednesday at the National Council of Sports and the contingent of 36 consists of 29 players.

Uganda’s Contingent

Desire Ayera, Isaac Masanganzira and Aaron Ofoyrwoth are back in Uganda’s Sevens team that will compete at the Africa Sevens this weekend in Mauritius.

The trio missed the Olympic Repechage last weekend but have been included in the squad to replace Roy Kizito, Allan Olango and William Nkore.

Denis Etwau is also back in the team and replaces Jinja Hippos’ teammate Timothy Mugisha.

The team departs for Mauritius on Thursday.

It should be noted that for the first time in history, the Rugby Africa Men’s 7s tournament will be played over two rounds at Labourdonnais Sports Club in Mapou from June 29-30 and July 6-7.

Twelve nations will compete in both rounds of the tournament with the winner to be determined by points collected after the two rounds.

Rugby Cranes Sevens Team

1. Pius Ogena
2. ⁠Isaac Massa
3. ⁠Ian Munyani
4. ⁠Philip Wokorach
5. ⁠Alex Aturinda
6. ⁠Desire Ayera
7. ⁠Aron Ofoirwoth
8. ⁠Dennis Etwau
9. ⁠Adrian Kasito
10. ⁠Karim Arinaitwe
11. ⁠Nobert Okeny
12. ⁠Timothy Kisiga

Officials

• Coach: Tolbert Onyango
• Physio: Samuel Asiimwe
• S&C Coach: Allan Otim
• Team Manager: Michael Wandera

Pools for Round One

• Pool A: Kenya, Nigeria, Madagascar, Mauritius.
• Pool B: Uganda, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire.
• Pool C: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Algeria.

Uganda’s Pool Fixtures (EAT)

• Uganda vs Cote d’Ivoire – 11:06am
• Uganda vs Tunisia – 1:50pm
• Uganda vs Burkina Faso – 4:34pm

Uganda Sevens Rugby star Philip Wokorach has left A.S.B.C Vaucluse.

French publication Le Dauphine reports that Wokorach has joined another French side Rugby Club Orléans.

“After four seasons spent in Bédarrides/Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Nationale 2), Ugandan Philip Wokorach decided to join the Orléans club, which has just obtained its promotion to Nationale 2,” an excerpt from the publication reads in part.

Wokorach departed A.S.B.C Vaucluse, with whom he moved from the 4th Division (Fédérale 1) of the French rugby system to the third (Nationale 2) in four years since he joined the side in 2020.

RC Orléans, his new team, is also in the Nationale 2.

Wokorach is currently on national duty in the French city of Monaco with the Uganda Men’s 7s awaiting the World Rugby Sevens Repechage, an Olympic Qualifying pathway, this weekend.

Heathens RFC are the winners of the 2024 National Rugby Championship.

The Kyadondo-based side beat Black Pirates 15-13 in the final played at Kyadondo Rugby Club on Saturday, June 1.

However, it was the Pirates that got on the scoreboard first after. Flyhalf Ivan Magomu converted a penalty early in the game.

Heathens’ forwards then took charge with Emmanuel Byamugisha and Joaquim Chisano scoring their two tries in the first half. Malcolm Okello slotted a conversion for the hosts to hosts to lead 12-03 at halftime.

Okello would extend the lead to 12 points (15-03) with a second-half penalty.

Led by the inspirational Magomu who broke Heathens’ line of defense three times almost in a similar fashion, the Sea Robbers scored two tries through their wingers Roy Kizito and Jeremiah Okello in the second half. However, both tries were not converted and in the end, the Pirates fell short.

The title brings Heathens’ tally to seventeen since the men’s top-flight rugby tournament was introduced in 1990.