Uganda has introduced six new players and elevated Ivan Bulima from reserve to main team captaincy ahead of the Safari 7s.
The 7 players include the aforementioned Bulima, alongside Patrick Okello and Fat Moses Watmon, who were part of the final 16 pre-tournament squad but didn’t make the team for the Rugby Africa 7s played last month.
Alphonse Openy will be making his return to the Safari 7s after featuring for the Walukuba Barbarians in the 2025 edition, while Darren Aine, who has featured for Uganda at the Burundi 7s, will be making a second outing for the Cranes at an international invitational tournament.
Openy’s previous appearance at the Safari 7s notwithstanding, the Heathens winger, with Yasin Waiswa and Yusuf Ssemakula, will don the Uganda 7s jersey for the first time at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi.
This year’s edition will have first-time returnees like Shakim Ssembusi, Fat Moses Watmon and Bulima, all of whom made their debut in 2025. On the local scene, they have been impressive for their clubs and have done well enough to stay within a very competitive Rugby Cranes 7s set-up.
On a personal note, players like Roy Kizito, who didn’t see a lot of playing time at the Africa 7s, and Ian Munyani, who was just returning to his best form, could have brought valuable experience to this side.
Additionally, the omission of players like Alex Aturinda and Desire Ayera gives these players the needed rest.
Squad: Ivan Bulima (Captain), Karim Arinaitwe (VC), Yasin Waiswa, Allan Olango, Fat Moses Watmon, Daniels Otim, Malcom Okello, Patrick Okello, Shakim Ssembusi, Aaron Tukei, Darren Aine, Alphones Openy, Yusuf Ssemakula (13th).