A memorable double action weekend as Walukuba Barbarians won the Herbert Wafula Memorial 7s in Busia, while Uganda 7s Select and Ewes claimed the men’s and women’s titles respectively at the Gorilla 7s in Kabale. The weekend brought together competition, development and remembrance, with age grade action on Friday and senior finals on Saturday bringing both tournaments to a fitting close.
At Busia Integrated Primary School Playgrounds, Walukuba Barbarians completed a strong campaign by defeating Hippos 22-07 in the final to be crowned champions of the 2026 Herbert Wafula Memorial 7s. The victory capped a disciplined and efficient run from the Jinja side and brought the memorial tournament to a meaningful conclusion in honour of the late Herbert Wafula, whose contribution to Ugandan rugby continues to be remembered with great respect. Former Vice Chairman of the Confederation of Africa Rugby, and also former President of Uganda Rugby Mr Sigombe Paul honoured the event together with Uganda Rugby Regional Representative and Director Mr Duncan Kirya.
The Busia event also retained its cross border character, with teams from Uganda and Kenya taking part in a tournament that combined rugby competition with remembrance and fellowship.
In Kabale, the Gorilla 7s produced new champions in both the men’s and women’s categories. Uganda 7s Select lifted the men’s trophy after defeating Uganda 7s Academy in the final, while Ewes dethroned defending champions Thunderbirds with a 14-05 win in the women’s final. Both championship matches were decided by the same scoreline, underlining the tight nature of the title clashes at Kabale Stadium.
One of the most notable moments of the Kabale weekend came from Rukinzo, a Burundi based team who registered their first ever victory over Thunderbirds. Although the result was not enough to take them into the final, it stood out as a major milestone and a challenge to the Thunderbirds, adding an extra intrigue to the women’s competition.
The tournament also carried special significance for the Gorilla 7s journey. Mr. Derek Mpora, also known as Coach Aziz and the founding chairman of the tournament, expressed appreciation to the people and institutions that have supported the event since its inception. He recognised Mr. Godwin Kayangwe, Mr. Alex Kalimugogo, Charlotte Kamugisha of Bunyonyi Safari Resort, and the partner clubs from Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for standing with the tournament from the beginning.
Mr. Mpora also gave special mention to Dr. JB Niwagaba of Kiruddu Hospital and Frontline Medical Services, Mr. Agaba Andrew, the manager of V.O.K, and the General Secretary, Dr. Nangoli Andrew, for their continued support over the years. Ismail Dakaba Kigongo of Nation Media was equally acknowledged for faithfully supporting the tournament since its inception.
Looking ahead, Mpora announced plans to expand the Gorilla 7s circuits through a rotation model that will take the competition to Kigali in Rwanda, Moshi in Tanzania and Eldoret in Kenya. The expansion is expected to strengthen regional rugby links while giving the tournament a wider East African footprint.
The tournament ended on a high note with champions crowned across both the age grade competitions played on Friday and the senior categories that followed, bringing the 2026 Gorilla 7s to a fitting close. Together, the Busia and Kabale events reflected the depth and direction as Uganda Rugby builds up to the 2026 National 7s series: a memorial tournament that honoured legacy and community, and a development driven competition that crowned new champions while celebrating the people who have built the game over time. This is Uganda Rugby taking shape!
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