When a fixture is confirmed, players train intensely while officials work tirelessly to ensure the game actually happens.
This situation is common across most Ugandan sports disciplines, largely because the setup remains amateur. Yes, it’s that hard to get a game played in the Matooke Republic.
Sadly, the 2025 Rugby Uganda Cup has already witnessed three walkovers, after just two match days.
On opening day, when some teams confirmed participation at the eleventh hour, newly promoted league side Kakira failed to host KOBs.
Lightning struck twice on match day two, bringing the total number of walkovers to three. Walukuba Babarians didn’t travel to Kabale due to financial constraints, handing Kigezi Silverbacks an automatic win.
Up north, the match between Gulu Falcons and Rhinos didn’t happen because the ambulance was unmanned and the spine board was deemed unfit for use as “the belts could not be secured properly.”
Uganda Cup Needs Its Own Dedicated Committee
The Uganda Rugby Union secretariat is already stretched thin, juggling multiple responsibilities with limited staff. Whether one agrees or not, that’s a scrum for another day.
Just as the National 7s are managed by a dedicated committee that ensures the tournament improves each year, it’s high time the same model was applied to the Uganda Cup.
A dedicated Uganda Cup Committee would have a full year to plan, coordinate logistics, and attract support, ensuring a smooth tournament.
It’s time to start viewing the Uganda Cup as a self-sustaining asset, not a side project.
With that shift in mindset, more sponsors and partners could be engaged to boost funding, reducing the financial strain on clubs struggling to honor fixtures.
Article Scripted by Ivan Semuwemba
