The Uganda Lady Cranes have finished second at the 2026 Safari 7s in Nairobi, Kenya, securing silver for the second consecutive year after an outstanding campaign at Nyayo National Stadium. Uganda won every match before falling to hosts and defending champions Kenya Lionesses in the final, with Lydia Namabiro delivering a tournament defining individual performance.

Uganda opened the round robin women’s competition in emphatic fashion, overwhelming University of Pretoria’s TUKS Women 50–5. Namabiro scored a hat-trick, while Grace Nabaggala also crossed twice, with Susan Adong, debutant Latifah Tiko and Rachael Mufuwa completing the scoring.

The Lady Cranes then maintained their momentum on Day Two, edging Kenya Shibli 17–14 before defeating the Junior Lionesses 31–7. Those results sent Uganda into the final day unbeaten and firmly in contention for the title.

On the final day, Uganda closed the round robin phase with a 32–12 victory over Tunisia, preserving their perfect record and setting up a decisive showdown with Kenya.

Silver Again

The final brought Uganda’s unbeaten run to an end against the Kenya Lionesses, who retained their Safari 7s crown. Despite the defeat, the Lady Cranes’ silver medal repeated their 2025 achievement, when they also finished runners up to Kenya after a 14–10 final.

Uganda’s only loss of the 2026 tournament came in that final, underlining the side’s consistency across three days of high intensity competition. The Lady Cranes entered the event as two time Safari 7s champions, having won the title in 2016 and 2023, and have now added another silver medal to their growing record at the tournament.

Namabiro’s Tournament

Lydia Namabiro was the standout performer of the women’s competition, finishing as both top try scorer and top points scorer. She crossed for eight tries and accumulated 40 points, providing Uganda with a constant attacking threat throughout the campaign.

Her hat trick against TUKS Women set the tone early, and her form remained central to Uganda’s unbeaten run through the pool stage and into the final. Namabiro’s individual accolades provide a major positive from Nairobi as the Lady Cranes continue building toward future continental and international assignments.

While the title narrowly escaped them, the Lady Cranes leave Nairobi with considerable encouragement: four wins from five matches, a second successive silver medal, and one of the tournament’s most productive attacking players.