When the Uganda national rugby sevens team steps onto the turf at the Coetzenburg campus in Stellenbosch this week, the heartbeat of the squad will bear a distinctly Mukono pulse.

For the first time since 2018, Uganda is returning to the global university stage at the FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens.

Three standout players from the UCU Shepherds playmaker Jones Kamiza, forward Allan Karuhanga, and winger Mark Lagat have punched their tickets into Uganda’s final 12-man squad. They will not make the journey alone.

UCU Shepherds head coach Leonard Lubambula has been tapped alongside Kevin Makmot to marshal the national side from the sidelines, carrying the hopes of a nation eager to eclipse a sixth-place finish from eight years ago.

For Samuel Lukaire, the Association of Uganda University Sports Vice President and UCU Head of Sports, the milestone extends far beyond a mere roster announcement. It represents the ultimate validation of university sports as a crucial incubator for elite national talent.

“Uganda’s return to the FISU World University Championship is a significant milestone for university sport in the country,” Lukaire noted.

“It demonstrates the growing strength of our university athletes and the important role universities play in identifying, nurturing and preparing talent for international competition.”

Lukaire emphasised that the championship serves as a vital bridge connecting collegiate athletics directly to national representation.

Seeing Kamiza, Karuhanga, and Lagat trade their familiar club colours for the national jersey, he added, is living proof of UCU’s deliberate investment in infrastructure, coaching, and athlete welfare.

“Having three UCU Shepherds selected for the national team, together with their head coach, Leonard Lubambula, is a strong reflection of the quality of our athletes, coaching and sports development structures,” Lukaire said.

“It is also a source of great pride for UCU and demonstrates that investment in university sport can produce athletes and coaches capable of competing on the international stage.”

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Coach Allan Otim has assembled a strong 13-man squad to play at the Driftwood 7s in Kenya.

The Driftwood 7s is the 4th circuit of the 2026 Kenya National 7s and is scheduled for August 22-23 at the Mombasa Sports Club.

Uganda is returning for the 36th edition of the tournament, having last played at this venue back in 2013 when Coach Tolbert Onyango had just taken the reins of the National 7s team.

Team Uganda will be captained by Ian Munyani who has been away from the set up and missed the last couple of outings. Alex Aturinda is the assistant captain and he brings a wealth of experience and leadership since he is one of those players that has barely stepped away from the National 7s set up, let alone a rugby pitch.

The team is boosted by the return of fans’ favourite players like Desire Ayera and Roy Kizito, while the experience of Dennis Etwau and Karim Arinaitwe, as former Rugby Africa 7s champions, shall be a major factor at the tournament and in preparation for bigger targets.

Otim and his staff kept a keen eye on the National 7s stops and have rewarded consistency, form and hardwork by recalling Aaron Tukei to the team, while Malcom Okello, Ivan Bulima and Daniels Otim have been nothing but exceptional from last year’s campaign, down to the two stops played so far in 2026.

Uganda are in Pool B with KCB Rugby, KU Blak Blad and Kisumu RFC.

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The Black Pirates successfully defended their Uganda Rugby Premiership title against Buffaloes RFC in a tight 30-29 final played at the Kings Park Arena on Saturday.

The Pirates came out guns blazing, going ahead first through Nathan Bwambale’s try in the third minute of the final.

The Buffaloes responded through eventual man of the match, Yasin Waiswa, who slotted in his first 3 points of what turned out to be a 19-point haul off his boot in the final.

Despite Waiswa’s heroics, the Pirates were too good for the Buffaloes in the first half.

Pirates’ forwards Bwambale, Frank Kidega and Alex Aturinda all added exciting tries from more than 10 meters out from the try line, something that summarized Buffaloes’ game in the first half. With that poor defence, coupled with the inability to create try-scoring opportunities of their own, the Buffaloes found themselves in a position where they had to make quick substitutions by the 20th minute.

These substitutes, like Douglas Musoke and Leonard Ndiku, changed the moment of the game with their carries and a try for Ndiku to cut Buffaloes’ deficit to 25-13 before the break.

In the second half, Titus Oyoo’s try was not enough as the Pirates extended their lead through Eric Mula’s solo effort. This try was the only score for the pirates in a second half that saw the Buffaloes register 16 points on the board.

Pirates champions, again!

Since lifting their inaugural league title in 2018, the Pirates have become a force to reckon with in the league, Uganda Cup and the National 7s series.

For the first time in their history, the Pirates have managed to defend their title, after failing to do so in 2018 and 2023. This puts them close to the legacy of Heathens and KOBs, who have not only defended their league titles before, but gone on to five-peat the league.

With that target in mind, the Pirates can’t afford to ignore the tasks at hand. After a below-standard National 7s campaign in 2025, the Pirates recovered to win the Uganda Cup to cap off the 2025 rugby calendar year.

The goal now is to not only improve in the 7s but also win a trophy they haven’t touched since 2023, and additionally defend their Uganda Cup title.

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