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

• Pirates 36-10 Impis
• KOBs 54-00 Rhinos
• Hippos 43-08 Rams
• Buffaloes 20-19 Mongers
• Heathens 43-07 Walukuba

 

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

• Impis 23-21 Rams
• Heathens 36-06 Rhinos
• Pirates 22-09 Buffaloes
• KOBs 33-15 Jinja Hippos
• Walukuba 25-27 Mongers

Fixtures | Saturday, 11th February

• Buffaloes Vs KOBs – Kyadondo
• Mongers Vs Pirates – Entebbe
• Rams Vs Walukuba – Makerere
• Rhinos Vs Impis – Legends
• Jinja Hippos Vs Heathens – Dam Waters

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.

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

• Kobs 15-17 Heathens
• Mongers 13-15 Impis
• Rams 03-03 Rhinos
• Hippos 08-17 Pirates
• Buffaloes 25-13 Walukuba

Women’s Central XVs League

• Avengers 08-19 Black Pearls
• Ewes 05-110 Thunderbirds

Matchday 1 Results | 14th January

• Pirates 24-18 Heathens
• KOBs 76-00 Walukuba
• Jinja Hippos 22-25 Impis
• Buffaloes 40-12 Rhinos
• Mongers 11-09 Rams

Black Pirates got the better of defending champions Heathens in the opening match of the 2023 Rugby Premier League on Saturday at King’s Park Arena in Bweyogerere.

The Sea Robbers won the mouth-watering encounter 24-18 to claim the opening day bragging rights.

Winger Joshua Engwau, full-back Timothy Kisiga, eighth man Alex Aturinda and Moses Olweny scored the tries for the hosts with two converted by William Nkore.

Playing in his 15th season with Heathens, Michael Wokorach was on the score sheet for the yellow machine and Nobert Okeny scored the other try. Joseph Oyet (one conversion) and Chris Lubanga (2 penalties) got the points off the tee.

The win put Pirates third on the 10-team top-tier league table with four points, a point behind KOBs and Buffaloes who registered bonus-point wins. Heathens are eighth with a losing bonus point.

Matchday 2 Fixtures | Saturday, 21st January

• Buffaloes vs Heathens – Kyadondo
• Mongers vs Hippos – Entebbe
• Rams vs Kobs – Makerere
• Rhinos vs Pirates – Legends
• Impis vs Walukuba – Makerere.

Matchday 1 Fixtures | Saturday, 14th January

• Pirates Vs Heathens – Kings Park, 3pm
• KOBs Vs Walukuba – Legends, 4pm
• Hippos Vs Impis – Dam Water, 4pm
• Buffaloes Vs Rhinos – Kyadondo, 4pm
• Mongers Vs Rams – Entebbe, 4pm

The 2023 Rugby Premier League kicks off this afternoon with the highlight fixture of the opening day happening at King’s Park in Bweyogerere as Black Pirates host Heathens.

Defending champions Heathens go into the fixture with their heads high having beaten Pirates in the Uganda Cup final late last year in Entebbe.

In the league, the yellow machine beat Pirates home and away last season – 23-10 at Kyadondo and 28-13 at King’s Park.

The Sea Robbers will be hoping for better fortune as they go for their second title since winning their maiden in 2018 when they swept every silverware there was to win.

With the sevens players available for both camps, it promises to be a closely contested mouthwatering affair to open the season.

Starting 15s

Pirates – 1. Ivan Kabagambe, 2.  Nathan Bwambale, 3. Ruhweza Alema, 4. Frank Kidega, 5. Umar Duff, 6. Desire Ayera, 7. Humphrey Tashobya, 8. Alex Aturinda, 9. Conrad Wanyama, 10. Ivan Magomu, 11. Moses Olweny, 12. William Nkore, 13. Timothy Odongo, 14. Joshua Engwau, 15. Timothy Kisiga

Heathens – 1. Santos Senteza, 2. Syrus Wathum, 3. Victor Wangobo, 4. Charles Uhuru, 5. Akera Komakech, 6. Tonny Okello, 7. Aziz Khan, 8. Scott Oluoch, 9. Aaron Ofoyrwoth, 10. Chris Lubanga, 11. Claude Otema, 12. Innocent Gwokto, 13. Michael Wokorach, 14. Nobert Okeny, 15. Joseph Oyet

Newly appointed Uganda Rugby Union CEO Isaac Lutwama will focus his agenda on making rugby the biggest sport in Uganda.

Lutwama was announced on URU on December 30, 2022, to replace Ramsey Olinga on a two-year contract.

“I would want to leave Rugby as the No.1 sport in terms of delivering a great experience for both players and fans in Uganda,” Lutwama told Daily Monitor.

“I would want to see us ranked in the Top 30 in World Rugby and qualifying consistently for both Men’s and Women’s World Cups for Sevens & 15s,” he added.

Uganda Rugby Cranes and Heathens hooker Alex Mubiru has officially retired from playing.

Mubiru, who is the most decorated rugby player in the country, calls time on his illustrious career having won over twenty major national titles.

Throughout his playing career, Mubiru has shown loyalty, leadership, commitment as well as hard work and he is regarded as the best hooker the country has produced.

He earned his national 7s team debut in 2004 in Dubai 7s which was followed by the 15s debut in 2005 becoming a mainstay on the team and playing 52 tests.

Mubiru’s last action for Heathens was in Uganda Cup against Kobs (semifinals) and Pirates (finals) with both matches ending in extra time and his side being victors.

It remains to be seen whether he will get into active coaching.

Honours

Isaac Lutwaama Nsubuga has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Uganda Rugby Union (URU).

Lutwama takes on the role of CEO from Ramsey Olinga who continues to serve the sport as the Chief Technical Officer.

He joins after serving in different multinational corporate companies such as Unilever & Copia and is an experienced Brand and Marketing professional, with over 10 years of experience working in the FMCG sector in Uganda and Kenya.

He is a trained Economist with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Makerere University, he is passionate about sports, rugby in particular, and the role it plays in building the ability to work as part of a team, building relationships & camaraderie to win.

Lutwama has previously served as Vice Chairman of Kampala Old Boys (KOBs) Rugby Club.

URU hopes to leverage his experience building and marketing brands to help build a sustainable future of financial strength, sporting excellence & success for Ugandan Rugby.

On the appointment, URU President Godwin Kayangwe said; “We welcome Isaac to the URU administration. He brings a wealth of experience in administration and marketing. In the bid to professionalize rugby, we have to consider the right personnel to guide the players as well as maintain high levels of stakeholder engagements continuously and certainly in order to achieve our vision. He is also a former player and administrator at KOBs. We have high hopes in him to steer our strategic direction.”