Fourteen players participated in the Uganda Men’s 7s national team training session on Monday morning at Kyadondo Rugby Club. From observation, a page has been flipped in who Uganda is priming for international tours this year.
Alex Aturinda, who joined the Uganda Men’s 7s fold in 2020, was the most senior player during the training session. Alone, he has featured in more 7s tournaments than nearly all his colleagues in training this morning combined.
This is the first “complete overhaul” in the composition of Uganda Men’s 7s squad in close to a decade. But it is not to be confused with last May when Uganda’s chances of progressing further in the 7s Challenger Series were over.
The full list of summoned players has only three players with more international 7s experience than Aturinda: Nobert Okeny, Adrian Kasito, and Philip Wokorach.
Full List of Players Summoned for Training:
1 Alex Aturinda (Black Pirates), 2 Karim Arinaitwe (KOBs), 3 Allan Olango (Rhinos), 4 Patrick Okello (Heathens), 5 Roy Kizito (Black Pirates), 6 Malcolm Okello (Heathens), 7 Daniel Otim Oketa (Buffaloes), 8 Humphrey Ndahura (Buffaloes), 9 Julius Opio (KOBs), 10 Arnold Ocen (Rhinos), 11 Michael Stuart Mwayi (KOBs), 12 Jones Kamiza (Black Pirates), 13 Arthur Opio (Rhinos), 14 Allan Karuhanga (Black Pirates), 15 Gift Wokorach (Walukuba), 16 Nobert Okeny (Heathens), 17 Adrian Kasito (RC Tricastin), 18 Philip Wokorach (RC Orleans).
When approached for comment, Uganda Rugby Union (URU)’s Communications Officer Shafic Kiyaga, said the Union is simply planning optimally for all its activities this year.
“Obviously a lot has been put into perspective by the technical teams regarding who to select and why. But at the moment, as the Union, it’s a lot to do with planning for the activities going to be undertaken by the national teams this year,” Kiyaga said to Kawowo Sports at URU’s office on Monday.
“We are trying to find the best fit in terms of our national teams. We don’t have a priority. We want every national team to perform to the best that they can.”
However, Kawowo Sports believes the seismic shift in the squad composition is due to Uganda Rugby Union putting all its eggs in the Uganda Rugby Cranes basket. Uganda will host the 2025 men’s Rugby Africa Cup during the May-July international tests window with a dream of winning the solitary ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Having the best players in the country — who are usually contracted with the 7s program for international tours — available for selection and playing competitive XVs rugby will give Uganda a better fighting chance against the likes of Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The 2025 World Rugby 7s Challenger Series
All the home-based players on the aforementioned training list have ceased to be available for their clubs as the country prepares for the 2025 World Rugby 7s Challenger Series.
The 7s Challenger Series schedule three rounds in Cape Town, South Africa and Krakow, Poland will kick off on March 1-2. The top four ranked teams will qualify for the HSBC SVNS Playoff to be played on May 3-4 in Los Angeles.
Team Uganda’s twelve-man travelling squad will depart for Cape Town in the last week of February.
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