Ugandan Rugby: 2025 and the Road Ahead

With 2025 in sight, Ugandan rugby is at a crossroads. From an expanded men’s league to 12 teams and increasing opportunities for women’s rugby, there are systemic issues that have remained constant. The national 7s team remains on the cusp of global recognition, yet World Series status has not been forthcoming, while the under-supported women’s team quietly charts a promising trajectory.

The 15s sides, however, show signs of stagnation. The absence of a university 15s tournament exposes a gap, forcing high school graduates to either abandon the sport or leap prematurely into league competition. High school rugby thrives in Central Uganda, but the regional disparity remains glaring. Against Kenyan teams, Uganda’s struggle hints at deeper challenges in talent development and strategy.

Grassroots, regional clubs are sprouting up but remain unfunded, unsupportive in structure, and uncharted toward professionalism. Whispers of unpaid national team players, opaque contracts, and underfunded events highlight governance concerns within the Uganda Rugby Union. Commercial flexibility is restricted by overdependence on a single beer sponsor, which locks out potential revenue streams as other corporate brands are sidelined.

Events like the Africa Cup in 2024 attracted over 14,000 fans but drained URU’s coffers, forcing the cancellation of domestic tournaments. The poorly executed Elgon Cup exposed weak strategic planning, while South African training opportunities for players were marred by welfare issues. Age-grade tournaments remain abandoned, and the women’s team recently traveled for competition after a public fundraiser an Indictment of administrative inefficiencies.

The touring 7s series, while well-attended, provides little commercial sense. With fans mostly from Kampala and costs falling disproportionately on the beer sponsor, the broader financial strategy remains questionable.With clubs organizing preseason events in preparatory mode for the new season, Ugandan rugby has to address critical challenges, diversifying sponsorships, strengthening club structures, reviving age-grade pathways, and professionalizing player welfare. If left unattended, Uganda risks falling further behind with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon. Rugby here thrives on passion, but without strategy, that fire risks burning out.