Following the change in management at the former Kampala (also known as Legends) Rugby Club mid last year that culminated with four clubs; Warriors, Rhinos, KOBs and Panthers, being suddenly homeless, a new location has emerged as a host venue for top flight rugby matches.
Although Lugogo remains the training ground for Warriors, KOBs and Panthers— except Rhinos who moved to Kyambogo— and occasionally hosts their matches, the 5D Ranch has emerged as a potential host venue when Lugogo is inaccessible.
The 5D Ranch is a facility of about 2.5 acres located in the Shimoni Estate of Kira around twenty kilometres from Kampala City.
This writer spent the better part of last Sunday at the 5D Ranch enjoying the Central Region Schools XVs League matches between Makerere College School and Kings College Budo.
Getting to the 5D Ranch is pretty straightforward on navigation apps. Whether from Namugongo, Najjera or Kasangati, there should not be challenges getting there.
Patrons arriving have ample parking on one end with a restaurant, bar, restrooms and wellness center next to it on the left side. Further ahead, there is an outdoor space designed as a play area and for
But the focus of this piece is on the pitch.
The pitch at the 5D Ranch is multipurpose for football, rugby and other outdoor disciplines on grass surfaces. For rugby fans, its size is a little wider and longer than that of Busambaga (Mongers’ and Avengers’ home ground) in Entebbe. The try area is the same size as that at Makerere’s The Graveyard.
The pitch has a gentle slope from right to left towards the far end when viewing from the restaurant end. It has a breeze that generally flows in the opposite direction. Team captains need to beware when going for the pre-match coin toss as these two factors could impact the outcome of the match.
Having gone there a few days after heavy rains had fallen in the region, this writer found the pitch’s surface to have drained well in such a short time. This is a good report given how some of the most popular rugby facilities fare during the wet season.
The pitch is bordered by farms and gardens on one touchline and goal-end, and then locals’ homes on the other touchline. Boundaries are pretty tight but there is enough space for fans to sit on three ends of the field. It is important to note that the facility has not yet erected permanent stands but plastic chairs are provided.
All said and done, as it was for Kings Park and Busambaga in the Central Region, the 5D Ranch is a great location for Ugandan rugby to find a new home. It is in a virgin community which could birth a new fan base and is, for now, a more affordable option for most of the clubs.
So, Legends closing was, in one way, a blessing in disguise. However, and this is where rugby folk will need to keep their eyes open, competition for access to the facility, as it is/was with others, will be against the corporate and now popular alumni football leagues. The said organisations have one major advantage over rugby clubs: the financial muscle.
Nonetheless, this writer looks forward to enjoying more rugby at the 5D Ranch long into the future.
