menu close

Suggestions

UCU, Nkumba vie for... City Oilers start pursuit... Uganda Premier League Match... Maroons ease past nine-man... Shaban scores twice as...

Top athletes

Hasifah Nassuna

Bobosi Byaruhanga

Ivan Ahimbisibwe

Fazila Ikwaput

Shamirah Nalugya

Livingstone Mulondo

Margaret Kunihira

Samalie Nakacwa

Phiona Nabbumba

Catherine Nagadya

Najib Fesali

Top stories

UCU, Nkumba vie for University Football League glory
City Oilers start pursuit of BAL Playoff spot against Al Ahly
Uganda Premier League Match Preview: Kitara, Vipers lock horn in epic show

Uganda Men’s Sevens captain and former Rugby Cranes international Michael Wokorach has announced his retirement from international rugby.

“Nange ndi muntu nkoowa,” loosely translated as “I am also a person, I get tired,” is how the former captain announced his retirement on April 14 as reported by Kawowo Sports.

He congratulated the new captain Ian Munyani, to whom officially handed over the armband during the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023.

Munyani will now be assisted by Aaron Ofoyrwoth following Wokorach’s departure. Wokorach captained Uganda at four Commonwealth Games events since 2010.

He also led the team through five Challenger Series events since 2020, and two Rugby World Cup Sevens events since 2018.

In 2019, Wokorach retired from test rugby the Rugby Cranes but he announced his availability two years later following the death of his beloved coach Robert Seguya.

Heathens host perennial rivals KOBs in the Rugby Premiership top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, 1st April at Kyadondo.

The first leg was decided by a drop goal from Aaron Ofoywroth as Heathens smiled to a 17-15 win.

However, KOBs have not seen defeat since and are top of the pile with a two-point advantage over their rivals heading into the return leg.

Team news

As already known, both teams will not have their national sevens stars.

Heathens will be without Aaron Ofyowroth and captain Michael Wokorach who are away with the national sevens team.

In the absence of Ofoyrwoth, Heathens have gone for a veteran presence with Faisal Gama starting at scrumhalf.

For KOBs, they will not have sevens stars Ian Munyani and Adrian Kasito while Mark Osuna rejoins the team from the sevens camps and has been confirmed to start on the bench for this game.

Pius Ogena, the leading try scorer will also not be available together with hooker Faragi Odugo and prop Jude Jjuko who are in Hong Kong with the East Africa 10s team.

At the start of the month, the Uganda Rugby Sevens team officially started preparations for World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series and the Africa Rugby Sevens.

Nineteen players started training at Kyadondo Rugby Club and the squad has been trimmed to fourteen for a camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa to continue preps for the Challenger Series that will take place in the same city later in April.

Rising stars Aaron Tukei (Buffaloes), William Lukwago (Mongers), Allan Alango (Rhinos), and Yasin Wasswa (Hippos) make the squad for the training camp.

Notably missing on the training squad are usual suspects Michael Wokorach and Desire Ayera as well well as France-based Philip Wokorach.

The two rounds of the Challenger Series will be played from 20th-22nd April and 28th-30th April in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are the teams that will take part in the Challenger Series.

Uganda Sevens Squad

Aaron Tukei, William Lukwago, Allan Alango, Yasin Wasswa, Mubarak Wandera, Denis Etwau, Timothy Mugisha, Alex Aturinda, William Nkore, Norbert Okeny, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Ian Munyani, Adrian Kasito, Timothy Kisiga.

Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes internationals Yvonne Najjuma and Peace Lekuru will feature for Mwamba Ladies in the Kenya Cup final.

Najjuma and Lekuru will form the midfield partnership against Impala Saracens tomorrow afternoon at the Impala Club in Nairobi city.

“We are happy to welcome them back. It is a big morale booster as they will reinforce our midfield. They are the engine. They missed the last three matches while in Uganda.” Mwamba Ladies coach Joseph Baabu Odindi said to the Nation.

Uganda Rugby Cranes will also have two internationals in the men’s Kenya Cup final. Eliphaz Emong and Asuman Mugerwa will represent their team Kabras take on KCB Rugby at Kakamega.

Rugby Premiership leaders KOBs will look to maintain their lead at the top as the first round ends when they visit Impis at Makerere on Women’s Day.

KOBs are top of the pile and head to Makerere for the lunchtime kick-off nothing short of a bonus point against a side that has now gone three games without victory.

The blue army welcomes Joseph Aredo back but the utility player will start in the midfield along with Daudi Ssemwami. The changes in KOBs backline show depth in the squad as Brian Ochan and Josiah Sempeke will pair up in the halfback and Paul Oyesigye comes in at left wing.

Emmanuel Echodu returns as well to lock with Robert Aziku.

In other fixtures, second-placed Heathens travel to Entebbe to take on Mongers while Pirates visit Walukuba in Jinja.

Jinja Hippos who endured a rough patch at the beginning of the season have regained their form to fight their way back into the top four. They visit rhinos at Legends.

Rams, the only side yet to see victory this season, will play host to Buffaloes at Makere in the late kickoff.

Wednesday Fixtures

Impis started the 2023 Rugby Premier League with five consecutive wins, but reality has begun to check in with games against the division’s big boys coming in succession.

The Makerere-based outfit is on a three-game skid with the latest loss coming at the hands of Black Pirates on Saturday, 4th February.

Black Pirates and Impis come into the game at King’s Park on the back of defeats to KOBs and Buffaloes in their backyards.

Impis started the game solid defensively and gave nothing but a penalty away in the opening 20 minutes of the match that Pirates captain Ivan Magomu struck.

In the first half, the visitors were playing against the wind. Little surprise that Henry Nsekuye whose kicking has been superb this season could not find the distance and direction with his kicks off the tee in the first half.

In the 24th minute of the game, the Sea Robbers breached Impis’ defence thanks to quick thinking from Conrad Wanyama who saw Impis players offside and scratched and ran over for the first try of the game that Magomu converted.

As halftime approached, the Pirates got their second try courtesy of Ivan Rukundo who picked an open ball after Impis’ ruck had been cleared to run through and ground near the posts and Mogomu converted for a 17-00 lead at the break.

After the break, Sydney Gongodyo got on the scoresheet to put the Pirates in bonus point territory.

Nsekuye put Impis on the scoreboard with a penalty before Moses Zziwa extended the lead for the hosts with a training ground try that involved Musa Muwonge.

Pius Mpoza powered his way through for Impis only try of the game which was converted by Nsekuye before Jones Kamiza wrapped up the scoring at the stroke of full-time.

Matchday 8 Results

 

Black Pearls are URU Central Women’s XVs champions for a second season running.

The Bweyogerere-based side beat record champions Thunderbirds 32-03 in the ultimate game of the season at King’s Park on Saturday.

The Pearls came into the game trailing the Thunderbirds by three points and only victory would see them defend their title.

Charlotte Mudoola struck a penalty in the 3rd minute of the game putting the hosts in an early lead.

Ten minutes later, the leading scorer of the women’s league Emily Lekuru scored Pearls’ first try after good play from the backs and the race for the title was officially on.

Thunderbirds had the opportunity to reduce the deficit but Mary Jean Odoi missed a penalty conversion in the 18th minute of the game.

Black Pearls who played the game expansively would then run in another try, this time skipper Susan Adong at the end of the move and her side went into the break with a comfortable 13-00 lead.

After the break, co-captain Ritah Naddunga who was named the unmatched player of the game scored three beautifully constructed tries.

It was a perfect way for Black Pearls to get started having missed the Uganda Cup.

 

Uganda Rugby Sevens team officially started preparations for World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series and the Africa Rugby Sevens.

Winning both tournaments will earn Uganda a ticket to the World Rugby Sevens Series and next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.

The team started training at Kyadondo Rugby Club with 19 players taking part.

U20 international Hossana Opileni (RAMS), William Lukwago (Mongers), Allan Olango (Rhinos), Yasin Wasswa (Jinja Hippos), Mark Osuna (KOBs), and Ivan Otai (Impis) are new players joining the usual suspects.

Uganda will face the usual opponents during two rounds of the Challenger Series on from 20th-22nd April and 28th-30th April in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are the teams that will take part in the Challenger Series.

Meanwhile, the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens will be held on 17th-118th September 2023.

The Training Squad

  1. Ian Munyani – KOBs
  2. Desire Ayera – Black Pirates
  3. Alex Aturinda – Black Pirates
  4. Micheal Wokorach – Heathens
  5. Nobert Okeny – Heathens
  6. Adrian Kasito – KOBs
  7. Aaron Ofoyrwoth – Heathens
  8. Timothy Kisiga- Black Pirates
  9. Denis Etwau – Jinja Hippos
  10. Mubarak Wandera – Black Pirates
  11. Hossana Opileni – Rams
  12. Timothy Mugisha – Jinja Hippos
  13. William Lukwago – Mongers
  14. Yasin Waswa – Jinja Hippos
  15. Ivan Otai – Impis
  16. Aaron Tukei – Buffaloes
  17. Philip Wokorach – A.S.B.C Vaucluse Rugby (France)
  18. Allan Olango – Rhinos
  19. Mark Osuna – KOBs

Black Pirates and Impis maintain their unbeaten start to the 2023 Rugby Premier League, taking the run to four straight wins for either side.

Over the weekend, Black Pirates beat Buffaloes 22-09 at King’s Park in Bweyogerere. All Pirates’ points were scored in the first half through tries from Timothy Kisiga, Timothy Oodong and William Nkore. Team captain Ivan Magomu converted two tries and a penalty.

Flyhalf Liam Walker scored all Buffaloes’ points off the tee.

At Makerere, Impis managed to hold off Rams 23-21 while at Legends, Lawrence Wakabi turned back the clock with two tries as KOBs 33-15. Collins Kimbowa, Oscar Kalyango and Ian Munyani scored the other tries for KOBs.

At Kyadondo, Heathens made light work of Rhinos while Mongers had to dig deep to overcome Walukuba in their own backyard.

Results | Saturday, 4th February

Fixtures | Saturday, 11th February

Table (Top 5)

  1. Pirates – 18pts
  2. KOBs – 16
  3. Impis – 16
  4. Heathens – 15
  5. Buffaloes – 10

Aaron Ofoyrwoth scored a late match-winning drop goal as Heathens edged perennial rivals KOBs 17-15 during Matchday Three of the Rugby Premier League at Legends on Saturday.

Ofoyrwoth who is one of the best kickers in the country pulled one out of his bag from a long way out to help Heathens to a fourth straight win over KOBs.

KOBs had a 12-06 lead at halftime with Joseph Aredo getting all the points off the tee for the hosts as Ofoyrwoth did for the visitors.

Norbert Okeny carries for Heathens

Five minutes into the second half, Norbert Okeny score a try and later Joseph Oyet slotted in a penalty for Heathens to lead 14-12. However, deep into the half, Aredo scored a penalty to give the home side a 15-14 lead.

A few moments later, Ofoyrwoth improvised with a match-winning drop goal.

Elsewhere, Black Pirates maintained their winning start to the season with a 17-08 win over Hippos at Dam Waters in Jinja to go top of the table while Impis beat Mongers 15-13 at Busambaga in Entebbe to ascend to second place.

Rams and Rhinos settled for a 03-03 stalemate at the Makerere Graveyard whilst Buffaloes beat newcomers Walukuba Barbarians 25-13 at Kyadondo.

The URU Women’s Central League also returned with Thunderbirds mauling newcomers Ewes 110-05 while Black Pearls beat Avengers 19-08 thanks to tries from Racheal Mufuwa and Emily Lekuru with the other points coming off the boot of Charlotte Mudoola. Emily Lekuru scored Avengers try while Aminah Nalujja converted a penalty in the first half.

Saturday Results

Rugby Premier Laegue

Women’s Central XVs League