Uganda Rugby 7s set sights on medals at FISU World Championship

The Uganda University rugby 7s team returns to the FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens after an 8-year hiatus, charged to fight for medals.

The championship kicks off in Stellenbosch, South Africa, on Saturday and has attracted nine countries competing for the three medals at stake. Uganda coach Leonard Lubambula has his focus on one.

“Competing on a global stage is an immense privilege, and it is time we prove to the world who we are. We are not just going to participate. Our focus is a podium finish, and we shall stay disciplined, executing our game plans one game at a time, and keeping our intensity high from the first whistle,” Lubambula noted.

“We respect our opponents because they are world-class teams, but we are fully committed to making Uganda proud, and that is what drives our fighting spirit to improve on our historical finishes,” he added.

Uganda last participated in 2018 in Swakopmund, Namibia, with the team finishing sixth overall. That was their maiden appearance, and it was a learning curve for the team.

This year, Team Uganda has set its target on a better placement, ultimately finishing on the podium.

His assistant, Kevin Makmot, was equally confident, stating: “We have a highly talented and experienced pool of young student-athletes who have worked incredibly hard to earn this national call, and we are confident they will give us good results.”

Apart from being university students, these players feature for clubs in the National Premier League, so they have more experience both on the local and international stage, having represented the country at a world stage before.

He cited Davis Shimwa, Jones Kamiza, and Calvin Gizamba as some of the players who have represented Uganda at the international stage and will shoulder the team in the tournament expected to be more competitive.

The Uganda Squad including the Universities and clubs they play for,

Francis Bogere – UMU, Nkozi University | Kampani Eagles