When the Uganda national rugby sevens team steps onto the turf at the Coetzenburg campus in Stellenbosch this week, the heartbeat of the squad will bear a distinctly Mukono pulse.
For the first time since 2018, Uganda is returning to the global university stage at the FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens.
Three standout players from the UCU Shepherds playmaker Jones Kamiza, forward Allan Karuhanga, and winger Mark Lagat have punched their tickets into Uganda’s final 12-man squad. They will not make the journey alone.
UCU Shepherds head coach Leonard Lubambula has been tapped alongside Kevin Makmot to marshal the national side from the sidelines, carrying the hopes of a nation eager to eclipse a sixth-place finish from eight years ago.
For Samuel Lukaire, the Association of Uganda University Sports Vice President and UCU Head of Sports, the milestone extends far beyond a mere roster announcement. It represents the ultimate validation of university sports as a crucial incubator for elite national talent.
“Uganda’s return to the FISU World University Championship is a significant milestone for university sport in the country,” Lukaire noted.
“It demonstrates the growing strength of our university athletes and the important role universities play in identifying, nurturing and preparing talent for international competition.”
Lukaire emphasised that the championship serves as a vital bridge connecting collegiate athletics directly to national representation.
Seeing Kamiza, Karuhanga, and Lagat trade their familiar club colours for the national jersey, he added, is living proof of UCU’s deliberate investment in infrastructure, coaching, and athlete welfare.
“Having three UCU Shepherds selected for the national team, together with their head coach, Leonard Lubambula, is a strong reflection of the quality of our athletes, coaching and sports development structures,” Lukaire said.
“It is also a source of great pride for UCU and demonstrates that investment in university sport can produce athletes and coaches capable of competing on the international stage.”
