By press-time, Uganda and Kenya were in action for a place in the semifinals of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup (RAC), that kicked off yesterday at Namboole stadium.
Zimbabwe, Namibia and Algeria had already booked their places, after they beat Morocco, Senegal and Ivory Coast respectively, in the earlier games. But even as the peak of the round was going on, a game that attracted quite a crowd, this year’s RAC was the second successive one Uganda was hosting.
The first one had been held in 2024, and although Uganda finished fifth in that one, an anti-climax for the home fans, the continent’s top rugby tournament should leave its mark.
Herbert Mensah, the Rugby Africa boss, noted that from the 2024 edition, Uganda proved that they were an emerging force in African rugby. Having already hosted the Africa Sevens Championships twice already, and with great success, they equally did well with the RAC.
Such big events require good organization, and seeing the way Uganda did, it was proof of Uganda Rugby Union’s commitment to bringing Africa’s finest to its shores. In addition, by hosting Africa’s best rugby teams, bar South Africa (World Champions), who do not take part in the RAC, this tournament has generated growing interest in the sport.
This is largely because of the fact that it pits Uganda against Africa’s best teams. A case in point, a team like Namibia, nine-time champions of the RAC, have been to the Rugby World Cup in its last seven editions.
This is proof of how strong this team is. By Uganda playing them, she gets an opportunity to gauge themselves and how much more she must do, to rise to their level. Notably, while the RAC has also previously, like is the case this time, been organized as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Uganda does not get a chance to play many test games against some of the best teams around.
So, by hosting the RAC, Uganda has had that opportunity to get tested. Whether the Rugby Cranes beat Kenya or not yesterday, the greatest achievement from such a contest, was a realization of improvement in the team.
Consider the fact that back in the day, Uganda used to be run over by a host of these teams, more particularly, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This was largely owed to the fact that these nations have been exposed to more high-level rugby than Uganda. In fact, much of this, was as a result of bigger financial support to those teams.
Meanwhile, the ongoing RAC tournament, that will run until July 19, received a mega cash boost from government of Shs 7 billion. It is probably the biggest amount of money that rugby has ever received in one go.
Perhaps rugby would never have got such a war-chest if they had not been hosting the RAC. But because of the significance of the RAC, especially from the point of view of how it advertises the country, and the potential it possesses, government, equally, could not resist.
Remember, the visitors have had a chance to visit different sites in the country, and that implies, foreign exchange entering the country’s coffers. On the other hand, Charles Onen, who coaches the Lady Rugby Cranes, said the RAC has been an exposure to him as a tactician, to understand the different levels players are at.
“When you see the players plying their trade in Europe, especially the ones of Algeria, who play in France, it is clear that their conditioning is top. That is what we should be aspiring to achieve,” Onen said.
Furthermore, Onen noted that it is evident that Ugandan rugby has got to export more of its players, so that they can gain in terms of competitiveness. That can go a long way in improving the players and the Rugby Cranes at large.
That said, Oscar Olaro, a former Uganda Rugby Union executive, feels that by hosting the RAC twice, Uganda’s global status and endorsement from World Rugby, has grown. It is against that fact, according to Olaro, that more sponsorship has been attracted by the sport. Nile Breweries, MTN, Rock Boom, Platinum Credit and Omo detergent are among the corporate partners that have associated with Ugandan rugby.
This can extend to the domestic game eventually. The outside pitch at the Namboole stadium has been used for the last two RAC editions. Perhaps, this is duly going to become the new home of the Rugby Cranes.
The field has been quite pristine, enabling teams to play some really good rugby. As it is now, Uganda has showcased itself as a place with good playing facilities. Such has been the result of the government’s investment in the infrastructure. It pays back handsomely.
If Uganda did not have Namboole in the beautiful state that it is in, it is unlikely that they would have secured the hosting rights from Rugby Africa. A few years ago, the Rugby Cranes’ games were rarely telecast live on TV.
But because of the significance of the RAC, every game has been broadcast. Rugby is now in everyone’s living room. Yet, Regina Lunyolo, a former women’s representative on the Uganda Rugby Union executive, felt that as a country, the bigger legacy from the RAC would have been ensuring that schoolchildren watch this tournament.
This, in her view, would be the benchmark for producing the future players. She added that a schools rugby development programme should emerge from this RAC tournament.
Otherwise, without the youth being attached to the game, then, its future is bleak. For what it is worth, with 10 minutes left in the game, Kenya were leading 29-24.
Talk about the legacy of prayers being indelible stuck on Ugandans, that is what the Rugby Cranes fans were left to do, as they hoped for a possible berth to the semi-finals on Sunday.
