Bamburi injects sh8.5 in Ugandan rugby sides

By Johnson Were

Ugandan rugby sides Victoria and Rwenzori have been given a sh8.5m boost to help start this year’s campaign of the 10^th edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series (BRSS).

The marketing director of Bamburi, the tournament title sponsor, disclosed donation on Wednesday in Nairobi where the firm announced an overall Ksh12m sponsorship while launching this year’s edition.

Robert Nyangaya said: “Bamburi is proud of the long association with the tournament. We are happy to be title sponsors of the tournament yet again and due to this growth, we have been able to increase our sponsorship to Ksh12m from sh11.7m last year.”

“The additional KSh300,000 (sh8.5m) will support Ugandan franchises Victoria and Rwenzori,” he added.

In the past editions, Ugandan sides have been funded by Hima Cement and only received prize money and kits from the tournament sponsors. 

Uganda Rugby Union (URU) secretary Alex Kalimugogo lauded the development but clarified that “we have not yet finalized our discussions with our Kenya counterparts on the full package.”

BRSS chairman Aggrey Chabeda however explained that the sh8.5m is just a top-up of what the Ugandan teams have been receiving every year so that it can help them have early preparation.

Victoria and Rwenzori outfits will take on Kenyan sides Buffaloes, Cheetahs, Lions, Sharks, Coast Bulls and defending champions Rhinos in this year’s campaign.

The games will be hosted in Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Mumias and Kampala with the final scheduled for June 2 in Nairobi and the cash prize unchanged at KSh1m (sh28m) for the winner.