Victoria Sharks make winning start to top-flight Ugandan rugby

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Victoria Sharks announced their arrival at the top flight of men’s rugby in Uganda with a narrow victory over Kampani’s Eagles at Kitante Primary School. Sharks beat Eagles by 22-16 points during the opening round of the 2025 men’s Nile Special Rugby Championship.

It was far from convincing and the hosts kept the Sharks under sustained pressure, but they got the job done.

Victoria Sharks’ first points in the championship were from a penalty by Daniel Kateregga just three minutes after kickoff. Eagles responded with a Willy Araptai penalty six minutes later before Alhaji Manano restored Victoria Sharks’ lead with a try in the sixteenth minute. Araptai kicked a penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 10-06 in favour of the visitors.

After the break, Victoria Sharks scored two tries through Davis Kyewalabye and Daniel Ebau while Klaus Katende touched down once for Eagles.

Daniel Kateregga Credit: John Philip Mugabi

The match was plagued by missed attempts for points off the kicking tee. Sharks fluffed two penalties and a conversion from five kicks while Eagles failed to convert four penalties from eight kicks at goal.

The misses hurt Eagles more as they failed to convert pressure and territorial advantage into points on the board. They had to settle for a losing bonus point as Sharks held on for the victory.

In the other Round One matches, Rhinos delivered the upset of the weekend as they beat KCB KOBs at Legends Rugby Grounds.