Over the week, Walukuba Rugby Club and Busoga Kingdom signed an MoU to drive youth empowerment through rugby. Here’s everything you need to know.

Walukuba Rugby Club and Busoga Kingdom signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise their long standing work relationship and use rugby as a tool for youth empowerment, community development and growth of the game across the Busoga sub region.

The MoU was signed by Simon Peter Waiswa, Chairman of Walukuba Rugby Club, and Owek. Noor Osman, Deputy Prime Minister of Busoga Kingdom, on behalf of the Kingdom. The ceremony was witnessed by Prince Daniel Kitimbo and Owek. Alex Luganda, the Busoga Kingdom Attorney General, as well as Allan James Mwigo, Walukuba legal counsel, and Monica Baliawo, the club’s treasurer.

Under the agreement, Walukuba Rugby Club will lead rugby development across Busoga’s 14 counties. The club will introduce the game to schools and communities, establish the Kyabazinga Schools 7s, and work with Uganda Rugby to launch the Busoga Masaza 7s and a Masaza league.

“I am very happy that this MoU is signed between Walukuba Rugby and Busoga Kingdom,” said Waiswa. “This MoU will further the already existing relationship between the two parties and will help develop rugby in the Busoga sub-region. We thank the Kyabazinga, the Prime Ministers of Busoga Kingdom and Prince Daniel Kitimbo for allowing us to work with them to push rugby to all parts of the Busoga region.”

The partnership aims to empower young people through rugby, encourage school retention, and create clear pathways into sport. It also aligns with this year’s Busoga theme, ‘Abasadha ni empango’ — “the men are the leaders in the fight against child abuse, early pregnancies in girls and early marriage in Busoga.”

“We believe that if we start with schools and use sports to champion behavioural change, it will help create a better generation,” the club said.

The first activity under the MoU will be the Kyabazinga 7s, scheduled for 12-13 September in Bugembe. The Kyabazinga 7s legacy programme will be launched in Kamuli and rolled out to Buyende, Kaliro and Namutumba in the first phase.

As part of the plan, Walukuba will introduce the Kyabazinga Schools 7s across the region and train school teachers as coaches for their respective schools. Through Uganda Rugby, the club will also offer coaching and refereeing training to selected students and teachers.

Teams will be organised into proper age grades ( Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20 ) starting next year with Busoga College Mwiri and Kiira College Butiki before expanding to other schools.

The partnership will also leverage the Kingdom’s scholarship programme to support vulnerable learners, with rugby participation linked to education and personal development opportunities. The programme is open to both boys and girls, with deliberate efforts to ensure equal access.

Progress under the MoU will be reviewed every six months, with reports shared with the Kingdom.

Walukuba Rugby Club and Busoga Kingdom say they are committed to taking rugby to every corner of Busoga, attracting Basoga players from different clubs to participate in Masaza competitions, and nurturing a generation that embraces both the sport and the culture, norms and values of Busoga.

“Kyabazinga afunvughe,” the leaders affirmed, signaling a united push to grow rugby as a vehicle for discipline, education and opportunity in the sub-region.