Last week’s Tritons Rugby (UK) franchise tour of Uganda was historic in two ways;
1. This year (2025) marks exactly twenty years since Uganda played her first ever international women’s rugby match.
The Lady Rugby Cranes, as they are known, took on neighbours Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on February 26, 2005.
They won that match by 92-00, and that is the biggest win margin Uganda has ever recorded in test rugby history.
2. The headline match at the Mandela National Stadium featured the Uganda Lady Rugby Veterans and the Tritons Women in a first-of-its-kind assembly for both franchises.
Most of the players, especially on the home side, converged to play rugby for the first time since hanging up their boots. It ended in a ten-all draw but there was so much more to celebrate amongst the women of all ages and walks of life.
Having always heard stories about the now-retired Lady Rugby Cranes and finally got the chance to watch them relive their golden days, curiosity got the better of me.
So I checked everywhere I could for interesting stories about the Lady Rugby Cranes. Luckily, I landed on an excel sheet of all the matches Uganda has played and the players who stepped on the pitch during those matches.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you; Uganda’s first ever women’s international test rugby team. If the powers that be could permit me, I wish to call them THE ORIGINALS. And here they are:
The Lady Rugby Cranes Originals – The first team to represent Uganda in international women’s test rugby:
1. Lillian Ikulumet (Thunderbirds) – Captain)
2. Stella Kyalikunda (Thunderbirds)
3. Christine Kizito (Thunderbirds)
4. Winnie Atyang (Thunderbirds)
5. Stella Abeja (Thunderbirds)
6. Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi (Thunderbirds)
7. Mary Nakanyike (Thunderbirds)
8. Stella Bakole (Thunderbirds)
9. Regina Lunyolo (Thunderbirds)
10. Charlotte Thereza Mudoola (Black Panthers)
11. Sauda Adiru (Thunderbirds)
12. Hadija Namuyanja (Black Panthers)
13. Helen Koyokoyo Buteme (Black Panthers)
14. Asha Sonko (Thunderbirds)
15. Rachel Babirye Kakaire (Thunderbirds)
Substitutes:
16. Fortunate Irankunda (Black Panthers)
17. Ann Tumwine (Thunderbirds)
18. Jascent Ssali (Thunderbirds)
19. Dorothy Nekesa (Thunderbirds)
20. Joan Namuyomba (Thunderbirds)
21. Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds)
22. Joan Andika (Black Panthers)
Of these twenty-two players, only Charlotte Theresa Mudoola and Koyokoyo Buteme are still actively playing rugby in Uganda, and with no alternative facts, anywhere else in the world too.
Most have quietly moved on with their personal lives and careers while a few progressed to become match officials, coaches, managers and administrators.
The referees include; Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, Sauda Adiru and Rachel Kakaire. The coaches and managers include; Christine Kizito, Fortunate Irankunda, Koyokoyo Buteme and Winnie Atyang. And the administrators include; Regina Lunyolo and Dorothy Nekesa.
We are blessed that all the twenty-two are still alive and with us in many parts of the world.
The Originals walked so that the current crop of players could run, and for that, twenty years later, we celebrate them.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This crucial record of history was built and updated by former player, captain and coach Koyokoyo Buteme, and I wish to give her the much-deserved credit.
