Stanbic Black Pirates are the 2025 men’s Uganda Rugby Premiership champions.
Pirates lifted the trophy on Saturday evening at Kings Park after beating Jinja Hippos, 44-23, in a pulsating final which went into extra time.
The match was level at twenty-three-all at the end of regulation time (80 minutes). Hippos, the challengers, and Pirates, the odds-on favourites, pushed each other to the limit in all facets of the game.
The scrum, especially, was not only entertaining to watch but it was also a balanced contest. Plus the free-scoring style of play these two teams are known for.
Pirates scored three tries through Haruna Mohammed, Conrad Wanyama and Ivan Magomu while Hippos touched down twice through Emmauel Odoi and Tony Khadambi.
The difference lay in the kickers. For Pirates’ William Nkore kicked one penalty, one conversion and one drop goal while Hippos’ Yasin Waiswa kicked two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal.
But during the thirty minutes of extra time, only one team showed up— Pirates.
The Sea Robbers utilised their quality off the bench to score three unanswered tries against Hippos. Timothy Kisiga, Jones Kamiza and Haruna Mohammed were at the end of hard-fought team tries. Ivan Magomu made no mistake with all the conversions.
Hippos were slow to (re)act in making their substitutions so they played that extra time period with tired legs and fatigued shoulders which exposed them fatally.
Ultimately, Pirates put enough daylight between themselves and their challengers as the clock wound up to the 110th minute when the center referee Sauda Adiru blew the final whistle.
The victory brings Pirates to three titles, having won before in 2018 and 2023. This is the first trophy they have won at their home ground Kings Park.
For Hippos, the wait for their first title continues. But the Jinja-based side will be proud of their performance not only in the final but this season as a whole.
List of League/Championship/Premiership winners:
• Heathens – 17
• KOBs – 13
• Black Pirates – 3
• Impis – 1
