2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series reaches halfway point with title races finely poised. We bring you an in depth breakdown of what the competition has been, and what more is there to expect.
Stone City 7s in Jinja, Rujumba 7s in Bweyogerere and Kyadondo 7s in Kampala have produced three different men’s champions. In the women’s competition, Thunderbirds have moved into a narrow lead after ending Nile Rapids’ winning start to the series.
With no team yet able to establish sustained dominance, consistency will be central to the title race during the remaining rounds.
The Opener
Two Eastern Uganda Teams dominate the floodlights in Jinja and action begins.
Stone City 7s set the stage for the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series, delivering one of the most unique playing settings yet: Rugby 7s under floodlights in Jinja. The opener levelled the field for the 12 men’s teams and eight women’s teams as they began their journeys toward overall dominance. At the end of the Stop, Walukuba Barbarians and Nile Rapids emerged victorious, bringing pride to Jinja City.
Men’s race remains open
Stanbic Black Pirates lead the men’s standings, with Platinum Credit Heathens close behind. The gap between the two sides is narrow, although Heathens have recorded the strongest scoring differential so far.
Walukuba Barbarians occupy third place after their Stone City success. KCB KOBs and Toyota Buffaloes are fourth and fifth respectively and remain within reach of the leading positions.
Victoria Sharks and Plascon Mongers continue to provide a threat to the established order, having shown that they can challenge the leading sides during the knockout stages. Kampani Eagles sit eighth and remain in contention for a higher finish.
At the bottom of the standings, Jinja Hippos, Rhinos and Mbale Elephants are under pressure. The direct relegation format leaves little margin for error, with winless Mbale needing a strong response in the remaining rounds to preserve their position in the top division.
Rams make significant rise
Rams RFC have been one of the standout stories of the opening half of the series.
The side finished 11th after the Stone City 7s and improved to ninth following the Rujumba 7s. They then produced their best performance of the campaign at Kyadondo, defeating Stone City champions Walukuba Barbarians in the quarter-finals and Rujumba winners Stanbic Black Pirates in the semi-finals.
Rams completed the tournament with a 12-10 victory over Platinum Credit Heathens in the final. Their progress from 11th to ninth and then sixth underlines the competitiveness of the men’s division. Walukuba Barbarians won the opening round in Jinja, Stanbic Black Pirates claimed the Rujumba 7s, while Rams were victorious at Kyadondo.
Thunderbirds take women’s lead
Nile Rapids controlled the opening two rounds of the women’s competition, winning the Stone City and Rujumba 7s.
Their run came to an end at Kyadondo, where Thunderbirds won Stop 3 and moved into a narrow lead in the overall standings. The result has set up a close contest between the two leading sides during the final three rounds.
Nile Rapids were without eight players who were away on school duty last week, a factor that may have affected their performance at Kyadondo. Whether their return will restore the side’s early season momentum, or whether Thunderbirds can retain the initiative, will be tested at the next stop in Gulu.
Kyadondo 7s also marked a breakthrough for She Wolves, who reached their first final of the series. Although they lost 24-7 to Thunderbirds, the result represented their deepest run of the campaign and provided encouragement ahead of the second half.
Avengers and Walukuba Titans remain part of a closely grouped middle section, with She Wolves now also strengthening their position in that group. Ewes are within reach of the teams above them, while Black Pearls and Mbale Eagles will be looking to improve their results after difficult opening rounds.
Final phase starts in Gulu
The series now moves to Gulu for the Lawii Rwodi 7s before continuing to Bugembe for the Kyabazinga 7s. It will conclude at Wankulukuku with the Kabaka Coronation 7s Grand Finale, staged in partnership with the Buganda Kingdom, Nile Special, Rockboom, MTN Momo, NBS TV among others.
Lawii Rwodi Match Day 1 Fixures
The final three Stops will test the teams’ preparation, discipline, recovery and squad depth. Travel demands and the ability to maintain performance across successive tournaments could have a significant influence on the final standings.
For the leaders, the priority will be to maintain consistency. For the teams chasing, the remaining tournaments provide an opportunity to close the gaps and change the direction of the season.
At the halfway point, the men’s title race remains open, while Thunderbirds and Nile Rapids have established a clear contest at the top of the women’s standings. With every result carrying greater weight, the decisive phase of the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series is now underway.
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