When Malcolm Okello first tagged along with his elder brother Jasper Ocen to Kyadondo Rugby Club in 2006, he had no idea he was starting a journey that would take him across continents, bring him national honors, and see him named Uganda’s upcoming player of the year.
He was just a five-year-old kid chasing bananas after training and copying his brother’s moves.
Now Okello plays for Heathens Rugby Club and the national Rugby Sevens team. But the story of how he got there is built on years of grit, talent, and a hunger to keep learning and growing.
“I started with tag rugby,” he recalls. “Then moved to touch and finally contact rugby.”
By 2015, his journey took a major leap when he flew to England with the Uganda U13 team. Representing Kyadondo Balenzi, they won their group—his first international title at just 11 years old.
Back home, he started at Tigers before he joined Stallions Rugby Academy under coach Onen. There, he picked up three championship titles and was named MVP.
In 2021, he earned promotion to Heathens. It wasn’t smooth at first.
Balancing school and club duties proved tough, but his breakthrough came in school rugby, winning MVP at Hana.
The COVID-19 pandemic slowed everything down, but not for long. In 2022, Okello bounced back, leading Hana to another national title and then the East African Games Sevens crown—again earning MVP honors.
That same year, he was named Uganda’s Upcoming Player of the Year at a ceremony at the Sheraton Kampala. He also captained the Uganda U20 team in Nairobi and finished as top points scorer.
By 2019, he’d already received his first call-up to the senior national team. But it wasn’t until later, in South Africa, that he officially debuted for the Uganda Sevens.
With only seven players available for the tournament, the squad still managed to finish third.
Since then, he’s represented Uganda in Safari Sevens, the HSBC Challenger Series, and Kampala Sevens—where the emerging side won the title. Most recently, at the Africa Sevens in Mauritius, Okello finished as top run scorer.
Like most athletes, his journey hasn’t been free of obstacles.
“There have been setbacks—injuries, finances, school,” he admits.
“You just have to pick yourself up and keep going. Prayers, staying consistent, listening to coaches, and learning every day… that’s what’s helped me grow.”
For Okello, the dream is far from over. His message to young athletes is clear: stay teachable, believe in your teammates, and never stop working.
