Uganda Rugby’s 2026 calendar officially opens this weekend with the men’s Premiership and women’s Premier League.
For core rugby fans intending to follow and watch their favourite teams, the task is pretty simple: go where they go. There is also a section of general sports fans who wish to catch the headline rugby matches whenever and wherever they come by.
This guide, however, is for a tiny niche group of rugby fans who, for their sins, plan to watch all the twelve men’s and seven women’s teams and visit all the nine venues at least once.
By equal parts design and coincidence, you will also get to catch some of the headline matches which attract the biggest crowds.
Let’s dive in!
Round 1 – February 7 – Kings Park
• 2 p.m.: Black Pearls vs Ewes
• 4 p.m.: Pirates vs KOBs
No better way to start the season than watching both the men’s and women’s current holders Stanbic Black Pirates and Black Pearls begin their title defences. Especially for the former against archrivals KCB KOBs who were the only team to beat them last year.
Round 2 – February 14 – Kakira Rugby Club
• 4 p.m.: Kakira Simba vs Hippos
Kakira Simba are playing their first ever top flight season, and this will be their first home match — at a venue where few have ever stepped foot. Additionally, it will be a Jinja derby against local giants Hippos.
Round 3 – February 21 – Busambaga, Entebbe
• 2 p.m.: Avengers vs Nile Rapids
• 4 p.m.: Mongers vs Impis
No rugby season is complete without visiting the beautiful peninsula of Entebbe to watch rugby with Lake Victoria’s waves flowing in the background.
Round 4 – February 28 – Kyadondo Rugby Club
• 2 p.m.: Thunderbirds vs Panthers
• 4 p.m.: Heathens vs Pirates
For avoidance of doubt, if any, Round 4 is simply and strictly about watching the last two teams to win the men’s Premiership; Platinum Credit Heathens and Pirates.
Round 5 – March 7 – Ruck Yard
• 2 p.m.: Nile Rapids vs Black Pearls
• 4 p.m.: Hippos vs Warriors
Winners of the women’s XVs titles last year — Black Pearls (the Premier League) and Nile Rapids (the Uganda Cup) — will meet on this day at a familiar venue but under new management with a different, yet exciting, vibe.
Round 6 – March 14 – Kampala (formerly Legends) Rugby Club
• 2 p.m.: Panthers vs Avengers
• 4 p.m.: Rhinos vs Buffaloes
We all thought, and were genuinely afraid, that by Legends Bar & Restaurant closing shop at Lugogo, it meant rugby had walked out of Lugogo. But thankfully, we were wrong. Round Six, featuring three Kampala (formerly Legends) Rugby Club teams will be the final weekend before the first break of the season which makes for a good sundowner.
March 21 will see the top four teams from the 2025 men’s Uganda Cup compete in the Quarter Finals of the East Africa Enterprise Cup against opponents from Kenya. The matches will be split on both sides of Mt Elgon which sits on the Uganda-Kenya border.
Round 7 – March 28 – Kampala (formerly Legends) Rugby Club
• 2 p.m.: Panthers vs Nile Rapids
• 4 p.m.: KOBs vs Heathens
Local rugby will resume, but for only one week before another break. So it is a no-brainer for one to watch the most successful men’s teams in the country, KOBs and Heathens, reignite their epic rivalry.
The Easter holiday will be on April 5-6 and while I know rugby fans will do everything to enjoy the sport, we recommend spending time with our loved ones and celebrating this important holiday of the Christian faith.
The following weekend will be another break, but for the Semi Finals of East Africa Enterprise Cup. Ugandan clubs will only be a part at this stage if they win their respective quarterfinal matches. Otherwise, it is an opportunity to travel across the border and watch local Kenyan rugby.
Round 8 – April 18 – Abel Dhaira Memorial
• Walukuba vs Impis
Round 9 – April 25 – Busamaga, Mbale
• She Wolves vs Ewes
The Abel Dhaira Memorial Stadium at Masese Landing Site in Jinja and Busamaga Grounds in Mbale are two of two least visited rugby venues. So we suggest checking them out before the women’s season ends and the men’s season enters the playoffs round.
Round 10 – May 2
• 2 p.m. at Kyadondo – VU Sharks vs Buffaloes
• 4 p.m. at Kings Park – Black Pearls vs Thunderbirds
This is the weekend of the final round of the women’s premier league, so priority will be the repeat of last season’s title decider between Black Pearls and Thunderbirds. But if you plan your movements properly and traffic permitting, you can catch Victoria University (VU) Sharks and Toyota Buffaloes at Kyadondo before crossing over to Bweyogerere.
Round 11 – May 9 – The Graveyard, Makerere
• 4 p.m. Impis vs VU Sharks
We shall conclude the round-robin regular season of the men’s premiership with the university derby between Impis and Sharks at The Graveyard, Makerere.
Summary of the schedule
The most visited venues— twice each— will be Kyadondo and Legends; which are home to the joint-most number of teams— four each in both men’s and women’s tournaments. At three times each, Impis, Black Pearls and Nile Rapids will be the most watched teams.
Looking back through this schedule, this is the most fair spread of the teams and venues within the first eleven weeks of the 2026 Uganda Rugby men’s Premiership and women’s Premier League.
