The era of franchise rugby in Ugandan rugby is truly back.
After nearly a decade of club and national team rugby only, the past few years have seen local players join the touring Tritons Rugby, the ‘UG All Stars’ select play two festival matches, including the latest against ‘Team Gonya’ during Michael Wokorach’s testimonial match.
Not forgetting the seniors and veterans who are now consistent with the Uganda Rugby Legends franchise.
And now, the clocks have been wound back to the good old days of the Bamburi Super Series with the revival of the ‘Victoria’ and ‘Rwenzori’ franchises.
Players of national interest have been summoned and named to the two franchises, Victoria and Rwenzori, for an exhibition match during the commissioning event of the brand new Hoima City Stadium.
The Hoima City Stadium will be officially commissioned for use on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the President of the Republic of Uganda.
Construction of the twenty-thousand-seater Hoima City Stadium and the other facilities in the complex by Turkish firm SUMMA cost USD 129 million and took fifteen months, three ahead of the planned timeline.
SUMMA officially handed over management of the multi-sports complex to the National Council of Sports (NCS) administration on Monday morning.
Rugby is part of the activities lined up on the day of its commissioning, including athletics (relay race) and football (Kitara FC vs KCCA FC) inside the main stadium, basketball under the closed roof of the indoor arena, and a fireworks display.
The rugby match will be played on the outside pitch.
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Rugby Cranes skipper Byron Oketayot will lead the Victoria squad— managed by head coach Fred Mudoola— while his assistant Conrad Wanyama is captain of the Rwenzori squad— under assistant coach Leonard Lubambula’s management.
The two franchises are a mix of the experienced Rugby Cranes veterans and budding talent on the local scene.
Since rugby is not in the culture of “friendly games”, this is expected to be another highly competitive match. For bragging rights and, perhaps, places on future national team squads.
