Western 7s: Kiboko reign supreme over Rwanda''s Buffaloes

By Aloysius Byamukama and Edwin Ram

Semis
Kiboko 33 G4 Sailors 8
Buffaloes 40 Panthers 10

Final
Kiboko 36 Buffaloes 29

Debutants Kiboko Squad proved their might in the Western Uganda Rugby 7s,after beating defending champions Remera Buffalo of Rwanda 36-29 as the one-day event climaxed over the weekend at the hosting MUST grounds in Mbarara.

The Kampala based side took an early 14-0 lead with two tries and a double conversion from Michael Okorach and captain Allan Otim.

The Rwandese had through James Ijongat and Vincent Kamali threatened a strong come back in the last ten minutes for a 32-26 deficit, but when Otim touched down in the last minute, it was all over for the Buffaloes.

“We are greatly happy because we worked hard with great endurance to make sure this trophy does not cross the borders again,” Kiboko captain Otim later commented.

The event, the third edition, had been threatened by the outbreak of the Marburg epidemic, but got clearance from Mbarara District Health office.

Sponsors’ representative and Bank of Baroda Mbarara branch manager T.M Sahay, was grateful with the teams’ participation and the fans’ turn-up and promised to bring many other sponsors in the next edition for the promotion of Rugby in the region.