Quaresma, Massanganzira tasked with U23 glory as Uganda heads to Burundi 7s
Uganda Rugby has tasked Edmond Quaresma and Isaac Massanganzira with leading the Uganda U23 teams to glory in the inaugural East Africa Regional 7s tournament in Burundi on Saturday.
Coach Edmond Quaresma giving instructions to U23 national team players during their final training session at Kyadondo Rugby Club. PHOTO: Johnson Were
Saturday and Sunday in Bujumbura
The East Africa regional 7s
Uganda Rugby Tasks Quaresma, Massanganzira to Lead U23 Teams at East Africa Regional 7s
Uganda Rugby has tasked Edmond Quaresma and Isaac Massanganzira with leading the Uganda U23 teams to glory in the inaugural East Africa Regional 7s tournament in Burundi on Saturday.
Massanganzira will lead the men's team, while Quaresma will take charge of the women's team in the one-day regional tournament.
Uganda Rugby will field development sides in the tournament in order to bridge the gap in the pathway to the national teams, according to Dorothy Nekesa, the Uganda Rugby Age Grade and Development Director.
"There is a big gap in the players' pathway to the national teams. Such tournaments will help us bridge that gap by giving players game time," Nekesa said.
In the women's tournament, Grace Nabaggala and Bushira Namutebi will shoulder the responsibility as the girls take on the senior sides of Burundi, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Namutebi will take charge at scrumhalf and will at times shift to flyhalf, while hard-tackling Nabaggala will beef up the forwards in no particular position.
According to coach Edmond Quaresma, his charges are more than ready for their opponents. He has polished their scrums and is confident that he will get results despite facing senior teams in the tournament.
"We have worked on our scrums and we are good to go. We are playing their senior sides, but we are out for victory," Quaresma said.
Massanganzira also noted that while the tournament is meant to give players exposure, his target is to win, and the boys share the same attitude.
"We are facing senior sides, but our target is to win," Massanganzira said.
Teams named
Women's Team: Tina Akello, Minat Namono, Shaine Josephine, Justine Anguchia, Gertrude Kateesa, Bushira Namutebi, Grace Nabaggala, Peace Nemira, Proscovia Mukyala, Namulala Unity, Latifah Tiko, and Hope Mulonde.
Men's Team: Jeremiah Ojambo, Patrick Okello, Douglas Musoke, Julius Opio, Wandera Mubarak, Allan Karuhanga, Aine Darren, Humphrey Ndahura, Ivan Bulima, Mwayi Stuart, Calvin Gizamba, and Julius Oyuk.
The two teams leave for Burundi on Thursday, July 2, 2026, and will return on Sunday, July 5, 2026.