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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The Black Pirates have overcome adversity on and off the pitch this season to reach the National Rugby Premiership final.

Leading up to their semifinal encounter against the Heathens, the Pirates lost a key player in Sydney Gongodyo, whose young life was cut short due to mob violence.

The Pirates recollected themselves and won the first leg 15-03 at Kyadondo Rugby Club, then went on to weather the Heathens’ storm at Kings Park Arena to advance to the final on a 36-30 aggregate win, despite the loss at home.

Despite the tumultuous past three weeks, the Pirates have shown character in their title defence, thanks to the leadership of Isaac Massa and Frank Kidega on the pitch, while in the technical area, they’ve had the astute guidance of their coach, Marvin Odong.

Going into the final, Odong believes he and his coaching staff have done enough to prepare the Pirates for the big encounter.

“Preparations have gone well. We’ve gone through our paces, and the players have worked hard throughout the week. The focus has been excellent, and we’re looking forward to what should be a great final between two quality sides,” Odong remarks.

The Pirates won the 2025 title after a mouth-watering encounter against the Jinja Hippos that went down to extra time. This year, the ideal situation for the Pirates would be to close the game within the 80 minutes, something that Odong believes is achievable.

“We’ve done our part to ensure the boys are in the best shape they can be, so I believe they’ll be locked in and ready for the weekend. They have earned the right to play in this final despite a rough past few weeks, and I have no doubt they’ll make themselves proud on Saturday,” Odong expresses confidence in his team.

On the other hand, the Buffaloes have been an exciting side to watch this season. All their hard work has paid off, and now they find themselves in the final after losing to the Heathens 13 years ago in the final.

This incredible Buffaloes run, coupled with a tight 23-17 regular season win for the Pirates, is a wake-up call for Odong and his charges. He notes that ‘pressure is privilege’ and has urged his boys to embrace it because it is a part of playing at that level.

“What is a final without some pressure anyway?” Odong ponders. 

The Black Pirates are 3-time league winners and will be looking to add a 4th tomorrow, Saturday, at the Kings Park Arena.

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The Black Pirates are set to make a historic third National Rugby Premiership playoff final appearance after going past Heathens with a 36-30 aggregate win.

Since the return to the knock-out league format in 2024, the Pirates have featured in every final, losing to the Heathens in the first and defeating the Jinja Hippos in 2025, in a final that went to extra time.

This year, the Pirates are going to meet a Buffaloes side that cruised past Makerere Impis in the semifinal.

The Pirates and Heathens have split the last 4 league titles, but the Pirates now have the enviable opportunity to become back-to-back league winners.

The KOBs, who bowed out in the quarterfinals, are the last side to lift the league trophy in 2021, after a return-to-play round-robin league format due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Eric Mulamula starred for the Pirates at Kyadondo Rugby Club when they defeated the Heathens 15-03. At the Kings Park Arena, it was Timothy Kisiga’s turn to put up a man-of-the-match performance. He started at flyhalf, but also featured at full back when Haruna Muhammad was sent to the sin bin, then finished the game off at Center in a 27-21 defeat to the Heathens.

In the semifinals, the Pirates maintained a core of 12 players who started in both legs, with a total of 20 players featured in both legs. Additionally, Pirates’ trusted hooker, Nathan Bwambale, reached a 150-game appearance milestone since 2016, when the club officially started keeping records.

The final between the Black Pirates and Buffaloes shall be played at the Kings Park Arena on the 27th of June at 4 PM.

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