Uganda Men faced a formidable opening day at the World Rugby 7s Challenger 2024 in Dubai, UAE, encountering familiar opponents in Germany and Kenya. Unfortunately, both teams dashed Uganda’s hopes, leaving the national squad with an uphill battle in the remaining matches.
In the first-round encounter against Germany, Uganda struggled to find their footing as Germany secured a convincing 19-05 victory. This marked Germany’s sixth consecutive win against Uganda in the 7s Challenger since 2020. Despite Roy Kizito’s late try in the second half, it served as a mere consolation for Uganda.
The second-round clash against Kenya saw Uganda putting up a fight, but lapses in defense allowed Kenya to dominate, resulting in a 29-07 defeat. Aaron Ofoyrwoth’s yellow card highlighted the desperate situation Uganda found themselves in towards the end of Day One at The Sevens Stadium.
With the final pool match against Mexico on the morning of Day Two, Uganda faces a must-win situation to stay alive in the tournament.
On the women’s front, Uganda Women made their debut in the World Rugby 7s Challenger, participating in the opening round in Dubai. However, Belgium and Thailand provided a tough initiation for the team in Pool A.
In Round One, Belgium staged a comeback in the closing minutes, securing a 14-05 victory after Uganda led at halftime. Agnes Nakuya’s yellow card proved costly, allowing Belgium, last year’s second-ranked team, to capitalize at the death.
Round Two witnessed Thailand overpowering Uganda with a 19-07 victory under the floodlights. Despite attempting a physical approach, Uganda fell short once again.
Coach Charles Onen and captain Peace Lekuru, reflecting on the matches, emphasized the tournament’s value as a learning experience and a crucial platform for improvement.
Uganda will conclude their pool matches on the morning of Day Two against Papua New Guinea, seeking to bounce back and make a statement in the competition.
