The three Jinja teams have so far struggled in the Uganda Rugby championship, but the Hippos, finalists from last season, have had it the roughest, with a quick descent to the bottom four.
After challenging for the championship in 2025, reaching the final and losing to Pirates, the Hippos have been on a downward spiral, barely showing up in the 7s, and being a shell of themselves in the Uganda Cup.
This year, they have so far registered three losses and two wins, only defeating the Kakira Simbas and Warriors, sides that are below them on the log.
The Walukuba Barbarians, on the other hand, are performing exactly how they are expected to. Narrow losses have ensured that they walk away with bonus points in the face of defeat, while a bonus point win against the Warriors and a draw with the Victoria Sharks have kept Walukuba in the Top 8.
This Jinja Derby is another opportunity for that famous Lusoga question to be asked once again: “bani abato sawa dhino”? This question is loosely translated to mean, ‘Who are the kids/underdogs now?’ and unfortunately for the Barbarians, they no longer have the services of Shakim Ssembusi, the author of these famous words.
Without a recognisable force in the forwards, the Barbarians shall always play on the back foot, but as a 23-player unit, they have the artillery to hurt the Hippos this Saturday.