Whether by design or default, club rugby in East Africa is heavily dominated by local home-based players majority of whom feature for one team for their entire playing careers.
This dominance and dependence on home-based players extends beyond club rugby to the international level with the national teams.
This assertion is clearly evident in the proportion of players on the national teams of regional giants Uganda and Kenya.
From the latest men’s Rugby Africa Cup which was played in July 2025, Uganda had 92.86 per cent representation of players from local clubs (26 out of 28) and Kenya had 89.29 per cent (25 out of 28). This is unlike any other country in the eight-nation competition which was won by Zimbabwe who had over ten foreign-based players on their squad.
However, that does not mean rugby players are barred from plying their trades away from home.
The Uganda-Kenya transfer is the most common exchange of players from both countries’ perspectives. This is simply because Uganda and Kenya are such friendly neighbours within the East African Community and they both have equally vibrant rugby systems.
For some individuals, the switch to the other side of the contested Elgon volcanic mountain can be attributed to immigration with family, education and academic endeavours, plus work placements and deployment. This is a long list which might not be exhausted because most go under the radar, especially for clubs based in or near border districts.
But, there is an elite group of individuals whose rugby skills are the sole reason for their moves as professional rugby players. Most have made news headlines, excited local fans and became household names away from home.
This two-part series aims to start the conversation and build an archive of some of the Ugandan and Kenyan rugby players, past and present, who have featured for clubs in the country across the Kenya-Uganda border respectively.
To start, let’s look at Ugandan rugby players in Kenya:
The one Ugandan name known at every rugby club in Kenya is none other than Philip Wokorach. The mercurial back featured for Kabras from 2016 until 2019. Wokorach was a key part of the squad which won Kabras’ first ever Kenya Cup title in his first full season after signing from Heathens.
Other Ugandans who have featured for Kabras include Jasper ‘Boskut’ Ocen, Gerald ‘Kasoto’ Ssewankambo, Charles Uhuru, Eliphaz Emong who had two stints at the Kakamega-based club, Ivan Kirabo, Pius Ogena, Ivan Odhiambo, Innocent Gwokto, Syrus Wathum, Eddie Kayima, and Emmanuel Echodu.
There was a period in the mid-late 2010s when Harlequins was the home of Ugandan rugby players in Kenya. The likes of Joseph Aredo, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Daudi Semwami, Solomon Okia, Ronald Musajjagulanyago, and one special name reserved for the latter paragraphs of this piece, had stints at the Nairobi-based club.
Strathmore University has had Ugandan students and rugby players within their Leos Rugby ranks. They include; Michael Otto, Ayoli Pando, Garvin Mutara, Hamza Muhaise, and Daniel Kisakyamukama. Other students for other academic institutes who also played some rugby include Desire Adriko, Mubarak Wandera and Levis Ocen.
The full list is non-exhaustive with names including the great Herbert Wafula RIP, Nathan Wasolo (Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad), Saul Kivumbi (Impala), James Odongo (Nondescripts), Mark Omoding (Mwamba & Harlequins), Nicholas Kato (Mwamba), Sean Alvin Mwebaze (Harlequins), Arthur Opio (Border Rucks) and others.
Currently, former Rugby Cranes captain Asuman Mugerwa (Kabras), Michael Kalyango now officially known as Sultan Mikael (Impala) and Robin Odrua (South Coast Pirates) are competing actively for clubs in Kenyan rugby competitions.
One cannot speak about Ugandans playing in Kenya without mentioning our very own Scott Oluoch whose rugby career was shaped by Mwamba in the early 2000s and also played for Harlequins just before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Equally important to mention, it has not been just about the men. Even female Ugandan rugby players have showcased their rugby talents in Kenya.
They include Yvonne Najjuma, Peace Lekuru and Samiya Ayikoru who laced their boots for Mwamba Women, and current Lady Rugby Cranes captain Angella Zziwa Nanyonjo who featured for Northern Suburbs.
