Mongers RFC have been a hard nut to crack in Entebbe, winning five of their six home fixtures in the Rugby Premiership.
When the Buffaloes visit Busambaga on Saturday, May 16, for the first leg of the quarterfinals, they will have to find that form they took to Entebbe in 2025 when they defeated Mongers 26-13.
In the regular season, the Buffaloes suffered only three defeats, with the last two losses coming back-to-back at the tail end of the season to the Victoria Sharks and KOBs, respectively.
On the other hand, the Mongers’ only loss at home came at the hands of the Heathens in the last fixture of the regular season.
Busambaga is a place where teams like Impis and Victoria Sharks have lost with slim margins, owing to the grit and fighting spirit of Mongers at home.
This good run of form at home is partially down to the Mongers actually showing up in the second half, something that they have rarely done whilst on the road. Additionally, Mongers’ marquee signing Shakim Ssembusi has been a revelation of the season, scoring crucial match-winning penalties.
In the first quarterfinal, Mongers’ supporting cast will have to do some heavy lifting as well, as it takes more than just Ssembusi to win the game. The Buffaloes, on the other hand, aren’t worried about a one-man show. In their ranks, they have several match winners like Fat Moses Watmon, Daniels Otim and Humphrey Ndahura who can turn the game around in a snap.
Home advantage is going to be key for the Mongers, as Busambaga is the pitch on which they train and play. Their players have the dimensions and blueprints of that pitch at the back of their palms, something that the Buffaoes will have to adjust to quite quickly.