Uganda Rugby 7s Series heads north this weekend for its fourth stop, the Lawii Rwodi 7s, at Gulu University playground on 29–30 August 2026. Named in honour of the Acholi Paramount Chief (Lawii Rwodi), the tournament blends elite competition with cultural celebration and community engagement in the Acholi sub region.
Legacy programme sparks inclusion and talent ID
Ahead of the main event, Uganda Rugby ran a legacy programme with the Age Grade Department, introducing boys and girls from Gulu City and Omoro to fundamental rugby skills before staging mini competitions.
Uganda Rugby Women’s Development Officer Beatrice Atim said: “We have a couple of new entrants and some players who have touched the game of rugby before, so we are trying to give them an introduction to the game. There is interesting talent here and it is quite exciting. Hopefully, the Northern Region will pick up some good talent along the way, while also supporting the growth of women and young boys.”
Age Grade Technical Officer Jude Rwakayanga added: “We had different centres from Gulu City and Omoro participate in fundamental rugby skills training. After that, we had competitions that took place as part of the skilling programme. It was great to see young boys and girls take part in the skills and express themselves in the game of rugby.”
Community led hosting honours Acholi leadership
The tournament is hosted by a Local Organising Committee drawn from Kitgum Lions, Gulu City Falcons, Gulu Elephants and Gulu Sprinters, working closely with Ker Kwaro Acholi to secure the venue and mobilise the community.
Committee chairperson Orach Francis Oyat said: “This is a combined effort by the clubs within the sub-region to do something unique and exciting and share the Acholi cultural experience with the rest of the country.”
Explaining the name, he said: “Rwot is a king or a chief in a particular case. The Acholi have clans, and each clan has a chief. The Paramount Chief, who is the head of all these chiefs, is the Lawii Rwodi. This particular event is about honouring our Paramount Chief. It is a platform to show him our love and respect and, through him, invite the entire Acholi community to come and enjoy rugby, learn rugby and experience it.”
Match schedule and expectations
All teams have completed captain’s runs. Saturday’s matches kick off at 10:30 a.m to accommodate the National Cleaning Day (7:00–10:00 a.m.), with play continuing on Sunday, 30 August, when champions will be crowned.
All matches will be broadcasted live via NBS Sport and Kawowo Sports on Youtube with scores shared live via our match center here: https://scores.rugbyguardian.com/t/lawii-rwodi-7s-2026
Oyat expects a demanding but lively weekend: “Everything has to be on point because there are no gaps. It may be a bit tricky, but from what I have seen, I think we will manage quite well. There is going to be a lot of action when we kick off.”
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