KOBs and Heathens are the two most successful rugby clubs in Uganda, with a combined thirty-four titles won in the country’s top men’s rugby division.
That was made possible by the insurmountable quality within their squads which resolved the tournaments season in, season out— until the mid-2010s with the rise of other strong challengers— into two-horse races.
Times may have since changed with the emergence of teams like Black Pirates (who now have three titles) plus others like Buffaloes and Hippos as disruptors but still, KOBs’ and Heathens’ names are mentioned with respect in title conversations.
When KOBs and Heathens met, everyone in Ugandan rugby smacked their lips in anticipation of a mouthwatering clash. Because the history spoke for itself as the biggest rugby rivalry in the country and also because the players were proper household rugby names.
Even now as we build up to 2026’s first Lions Cup clash— the meeting between KOBs and Heathens as it is known— at a time when fresh defeats in the Enterprise Cup compounded their poor starts to the season, this remains the biggest rivalry in Ugandan rugby.
Just like you, my most esteemed reader, I am a rugby fan and KOBs vs Heathens is one of those fixtures I highlight as must-watch when the season calendar is released. This, I do, to see some of the best players in the country at the time put on the one of the country’s best shows.
That said, please allow me to share my combined KOBs-Heathens XV squad of all time. Some of whom I’ve watched in person and others whose exploits I’ve heard narrated like folklore.
Ernest Akorebirungi’s KOBS-Heathens Combined XV Squad of All Time:
1. Fred Mudoola (KOBs)
2. Alex Mubiru (Heathens)
3. Brian Odongo (KOBs)
4. Charles Uhuru (Heathens)
5. Victor Wadia (KOBs)
6. Robert Seguya (Heathens)
7. Mathias Ochwo (Heathens)
8. Scott Oluoch (both KOBs & Heathens)
9. Davis Kyewalabye (KOBs)
10. Edmond Tumusiime (KOBs)
11. Justin Kimono (KOBs)
12. Oscar Kalyango (KOBs)
13. Timothy Mudoola (KOBs)* or Michael Wokorach (Heathens)*
14. Allan Musoke (KOBs)
15. Philip Wokorach (Heathens)
You notice that all positions are undisputed apart from that of outside center (number 13). I must admit that I found it so difficult to choose between Timothy Mudoola and Michael Wokorach that I had to use a coin toss to determine whose name came first.
Having grown up in the Wokorach era, my heart leaned towards the Heathens crocodile but my mind whispered the KOBs stallion because of how much I’ve read about him.
Please let me know who you would have on your team.
In attempting to build this combined all-time squad, this is what I have come to learn: most teams of the modern day, as a whole, generally play better and more structured rugby than those of the old days. But some of the current generation of players, individually, may not be worthy of lacing the boots of those who wore the jerseys before them.
