Exceptionally talented and gifted athletes will always be the centre of attraction in whichever sports discipline they take part in.

This is what has recently become of Welden School Mbarara football team twin brothers Roberi Bukuru and Obed Butoyi, whose identity difference challenges many.

The pint-sized gifted wingers played an integral part in Welden School’s USSSA Ankole zone boys’ football championship triumph in Ibanda, as the team won their maiden zonal accolade following a 2-0 win over St Kagwa Bushenyi High School.

Roberi Bukuru (R) and Obed Butoyi (L) pause with USSSA Ankole Zonal trophy

The 16-year-old identical pair was not only a centre of attraction due to their natural being but also because of the skill they exhibited throughout the championship, with Butoyi contributing 5 goals while Bukuru had 3 up his shoulder.

The interesting pair of Rwandan descent would have maybe tried their luck elsewhere if Welden School proprietor Yassin Mugabe had not spotted them during a primary school football competition in Nakivale refugee camp in Isingiro district in 2022.

Welden School team coach Noah Mugerwa talks to the twins Roberi Bukuru and Obed Butoyi during a match

They joined the school in S.1 last year, and although the team made it to the USSSA national boys’ football championship in Fort Portal, they had not represented the zone as champions but as number 4, and their stay in the championship was not longer.

But this time, they will be in Masaka for the national USSSA boys’ championship starting April 26 to May 5 as champions of Ankole zone.

According to Bukuru, the elder twin, their father Bosco Mutarambirwa, and their mother Janine Miburo decided to leave their home in Rwanda and find refuge in Nakivale refugee camp in 2005, before the twins were born in 2007.

This is where Mugabe picked them and took them to his school in 2023 after having completed PLE at Kabazana Primary School in Nakivale.

The two players are part of the Mbarara City Junior team that plays in the FUFA Juniors league where they have played an integral part with Bukuru scoring the lone goal in Mbarara’s 1-0 win against the KCCA junior team in their recent match, that helped the side go level on top with KCCA on 12 points.