The Kampala Old Boys (KOBs) Rugby Club, one of Uganda’s most decorated outfits, has welcomed a new era of leadership.
Darren Rutagwera takes over the reins as the new Chairperson, taking over from Dr Stone Luggya, under whom he served as vice chairman.
In his remarks, Rutagwera acknowledged the difficult situation the club finds itself in, having not won a major trophy in 5 years.
“This new excomm has come into a space where the team has been falling short. Going forward, we look at several aspects of what we can do for this team to improve performance,” he noted.
Top of the agenda for the new executive committee is improving the team’s performance. To do this, Rutagwera’s leadership has laid down some strategies.
“Team performance comes with getting the right people in the right places, getting the right coaches and having the right players,” noted Rutagwera.
Since winning the 2021 National 15s championship and parting ways with Betway, KOBs has gone on to welcome various sponsors on board. Under the stewardship of the now retained treasurer, Muriel Aloka Atai, KOBs welcomed the partnerships with Jibu Water, KCB Bank and NRG Radio.
In what the club has described as ‘overseeing a period of improved financial discipline’, Atai carries on with her duties and the new chairman pledges to support her.
“Finances are the biggest problem that a modern rugby club faces, but we have put strategies where we are looking at targeted sponsorships. This should be able to bridge the gap between lack of finances and the financing that we need,” noted Rutagwera.
This new leadership team has the blessing of the Uganda Rugby Union, according to the General Secretary, Peter Odong.
“As a Union, we pledge to work with the KOBs’ new leadership and try to advance rugby, especially in the areas of age grade and grassroots rugby,” remarked Odong.
KOBs faces a looming challenge of a home ground, as ownership of the Legends Rugby Grounds is still undecided on the fate of the facility. On this, Odong says that KOBs has the full support of the Uganda Rugby Union.
“We’ll work with them and walk with them on some of the challenges that they have, especially on the playing surface, a home. That’s on top of our agenda,” he noted.
Legends, or Kampala Rugby Club as it was known then, has been home to some of Uganda’s finest rugby talents hailing from the surrounding communities of Lugogo, Naguru and Nakawa.
In this regard, Chairman Rutagwera promises to keep this legacy alive as one of the strategies to return KOBs to its glory days.
“What can the club do for the community? We are going to look at what aspects the club can help its community,” he noted.
This two-year term sees the club leadership focusing on the ‘team reviving its culture in the next 12 to 18 months and returning to its winning culture.’
Full Excomm
- Chairperson – Darren Rutagwera
- Vice Chairperson – Simon Peter Kasito
- Secretary- Richard Mutabazi
- Treasurer – Muriel Aloka Atai
- Player Representative – Edrine Ssempebwa
- Director of Rugby- Brian Odongo