This Saturday, Kobs and Ugandan rugby will celebrate the life of fallen player Edward Kitaka at the last event of the National Sevens Championship.
Laid to rest 12 years ago, Kitaka’s legacy will forever live on.
Born in 1960, Kitaka passed on in 2005 aged 45.
For his contribution to the success of Kobs and Ugandan rugby on and off the pitch, a memorial sevens circuit is held annually in his honour.
Kitaka, the Player Edward Kizito Kitaka, played as a lock and was a towering figure not only in terms of size but also the brain to interprete the game.
Having started playing rugby at university, he joined Kobs in the early 80’s and continued to grow in the game.
He featured for Kampala Combined, a franchise club at the annual Easter Blackrock festival in Nairobi. Kitaka’s career was cut short by a nagging knee injury in 90’s.
Kitaka the manager Kitaka had stints as Kobs coach, Chairman, Kampala RFC Chairman, Manager for the National 15s and 7s sides in the 90’s & early 2000’s.
He spear headed corporate sponsorship in rugby when East African Underwriters, a company he was involved in, became official Kobs sponsors.
Kitaka pioneered secondary schools coaching and discovered great players like Simon Wakabi from Namilyango College and Allan Musoke from Kings College Budo.
The Late Edward Kitaka Rugby Data
• Played for Makerere University – Lumumba Hall 1984 -1987 – Joined K.R.U.F.C
• Represented K.R.U.F.C – Blackrock Easter Festival Competition – Gestetiner Sevens – DHL Sevens
• Founder Member Uganda Rugby Union – 1988 as Secretary
• K.R.U.F.C Assistant Fixture Secretary 1992
• Elected as the Hon. Secretary K.R.U.F.C – 1990 – 1993
• Went to UK to study 1991 Played a bit of rugby – Retired due to knee injury on return
• Team Manager – Uganda Seven Team 1996 – 1997
• Played against London Irish 1996
• Team Manager Uganda vs. Kenya 1997 – Both Legs
• Assisted in forming Black Pirates – 1997 as Chairman K.R.U.F.C
• Chairman K.R.U.F.C 1996 – 2000
• Team Manager K.R.U.F.C Combined team Enterprises Cup 1998
• Chairman Kobs – 2000 to 2003
• Edward Kitaka Kizito passed away on 5th Jan 2005