If you’ve attended the Nile Special Rugby 7s Series 2023, you’ve probably heard the word ‘Kapeeka’ being mentioned amongst rugby players.
It’s been around for a while. But it picked up momentum during the 15s league and now, during the 7s series, you can’t go a day without hearing it.
But what does it mean and where did it start?
Located about 60 kilometres from Kampala, Kapeeka is a small town in Nakaseke district, Central Uganda.
That’s where the Special Forces Command (SFC) headquarters were located until 2020 when they shifted base to Entebbe.
The SFC is Uganda’s most specialised and highly trained component of the UPDF army.
Rugby players in the 7s national team borrowed the moniker for their training program about a
year ago.
They endure vigorous drills under head coach Tolbert Onyango and come out with the
finest rugby skills and fitness in the country.
The ‘Kapeeka’ word has since trickled down to the clubs where these national team players come from.
It is now used to mean that players in their respective clubs are going to war against each other
when they run onto the pitch.
“You know, on pitch, we are enemies, man. But off the pitch, we are friends. So, whenever I’m
meeting my friends from the Buffaloes or Kobs, we are not friends. That is Kapeeka. It is war.”
Heathens player Jeremiah Wasswa said to Ernest Akorebirungi of Kawowo Sports during the
Tooro 7s circuit last weekend.
Other words that are used include Mogadishu and Luweero. More on these next time.
Courtesy Photos
