The Uganda Rugby Cranes 7s national team produced a commanding performance at the 36th edition of the Driftwood 7s held at the Mombasa Sports Club in Kenya, recording four wins out of six matches against top-tier regional competition. Participating as an elite invitational team, the Ugandan contingent utilized the high-octane tournament as a crucial preparatory stepping stone ahead of the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s Championship, which Uganda will host in Kampala on September 26–27.

A Historic Return to Mombasa's Coast

Marking Uganda's first appearance at the coastal Driftwood 7s in over 13 years, the national sevens side entered the tournament eager to test squad depth, tactical cohesion, and defensive transition speed under competitive tournament conditions. Head coach Otim Allan assembled a potent blend of experienced internationals and rising stars from the domestic Nile Special 7s circuit.

Drawn into a demanding Pool B alongside Kenyan heavyweights KCB Rugby, Blak Blad, and Kisumu RFC, the Cranes got off to a flying start by defeating Blak Blad 27–14 before grinding out a determined 17–12 victory over Kisumu RFC. Although they suffered a narrow 7–12 loss to tournament contenders KCB in pool play and a hard-fought 5–27 defeat against eventual finalists Kabras Sugar in the knockout phase, the Cranes bounced back emphatically to dispatch Nondescripts 19–14 in their placement encounter.

"The intensity, physical collisions, and speed of the Driftwood 7s provided exactly the high-pressure environment our squad needed," remarked head coach Otim Allan. "We identified key tactical areas to refine, tested combinations under fatigue, and gave valuable competitive minutes to our emerging talent across both days."

Leadership and Emerging Talents Shine

Led by seasoned national team captain Ian Munyani and vice-captain Alex Aturinda, the Rugby Cranes displayed maturity and composure in crucial match moments. The squad benefited immensely from the explosive running and breakdown work of forwards Desire Ayera and Roy Kizito, while playmakers Malcolm Okello and Allan Olango provided creative distribution in the wide channels.

Young talents including Shakim Ssembusi, Dennis Etwau, Daniel Otim, Patrick Okello, and Aaron Tukei proved that Uganda's player pipeline possesses the athleticism and skill necessary to sustain continental dominance. Their ability to match the physicality of seasoned Kenyan Premiership outfits demonstrates the significant strides made in player conditioning and tactical awareness under the Uganda Rugby Union high-performance framework.

Tactical Takeaways and High-Performance Metrics

Technical observers and coaching staff noted several vital development markers during the two-day campaign in Mombasa that will inform training camps over the coming month:

  • Defensive Line Speed: Significantly improved closing speed on opposing ball-carriers, forcing 14 handling errors.
  • Ruck Retention Efficiency: Achieved an impressive 88% success rate in offensive breakdown retention against heavy forward packs.
  • Restart Contestation: Controlled over 65% of aerial restarts through athletic jumping and contestation from forwards.
  • Squad Rotation & Depth: All 12 traveling players received substantial game time under intense pressure, proving squad readiness.

Uganda Squad & Technical Team in Mombasa

  • Coaching Staff: Otim Allan (Head Coach), Michael Wandera (Team Manager), Samuel Asiimwe (Team Physio)
  • Leadership Core: Ian Munyani (Captain), Alex Aturinda (Vice-Captain)
  • Squad Members: Roy Kizito, Desire Ayera, Allan Olango, Patrick Okello, Aaron Tukei, Malcolm Okello, Shakim Ssembusi, Dennis Etwau, Daniel Otim, Ivan Bulima, Karim Arinaitwe
  • Tournament Record: 4 Wins, 2 Losses (5th Place Overall Finish)
  • Next Major Milestone: 2026 Rugby Africa Men's 7s (Kampala, September 26–27, 2026)

The Road to Kampala: Continental Glory at Kings Park

The Uganda Rugby Union (URU) is finalizing comprehensive tournament logistics for the 2026 Africa Men's 7s, which will welcome Africa’s top sevens nations—including Kenya Shujaa, Zimbabwe Cheetahs, Madagascar, and Tunisia—to Kampala. With home advantage and vocal backing from the passionate Ugandan rugby fraternity, the Rugby Cranes 7s are laser-focused on capturing continental silverware and securing direct qualification for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.

With high-performance training camps scheduled at Kings Park and Kyadondo throughout September, coach Otim Allan's charges are poised to deliver a memorable campaign for Ugandan rugby fans on the continental stage.