Rujumba 7s returns as 10th edition kicks off at Kings Park

The 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series moves to its second stop tomorrow as Stanbic Black Pirates host the 10th edition of the Rujumba 7s at Kings Park Arena, Bweyogerere. Named in memory of the late Henry Rujumba, the Fort Portal born who rose from Ntare School to the Rugby Cranes and Black Pirates before his death in 2015, the tournament has grown from a tribute fixture into a key stop on the Uganda Rugby Sevens calendar.

Stanbic Black Pirates have won the men’s Rujumba 7s three times (2021, 2024, 2025) and will be targeting a fourth crown at this stop. The 2026 series opened in Jinja with the Stone City 7s, where Walukuba Barbarians and Nile Rapids claimed the men’s and women’s titles respectively. Rujumba 7s is the second of six stops still bringing together 12 core men’s teams and 8 core women’s sides battling for crucial series points at every stop.

For Pirates, the fixture is more than another stop. It is an opportunity to honour Rujumba and other fallen comrades, showcase their sevens programme, and convert home support into standings points in a season that features a clearer promotion and relegation pathway.

After missing out on the opening trophy in Jinja, several heavyweights will be desperate to respond. Toyota Buffaloes, Platinum Credit Heathens and KCB KOBs all started strongly at Stone City and will look to build momentum, while Pirates will aim to turn home advantage into points on the series table.

In the men’s draw, the pools set up an intriguing second circuit. Pool A features Stone City champions Walukuba Barbarians alongside Victoria Sharks, Rhinos and Rams RFC. Pool B brings together Toyota Buffaloes, KCB KOBs, Plascon Mongers and Mbale Elephants, while Pool C sees hosts Stanbic Black Pirates drawn with Platinum Credit Heathens, Kampani Eagles and Hippos RFC.

The women’s competition is equally compelling. Pool A pits Stone City winners Nile Rapids against Avengers, She Wolves and Mbale Eagles, while Pool B sees defending champions Black Pearls face Thunderbirds, Ewes and Walukuba Titans in a group that could decide the early pace setters.

What began in 2015 as a tribute to a charismatic forward has matured into a competitive, professionally run circuit on the national 7s series, drawing full squads, live coverage and serious title implications.

This weekend, as the whistle blows at Kings Park Arena, the competition will again carry two messages in equal measure: that results matter in the race for the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series crown, and that the memory of the late Henry Rujumba and other fallen Black Pirates players remembered alongside him still pulses through Ugandan rugby.

Be the first to know! Follow the official Uganda Rugby, social media accounts to keep up with all information from the games including fixtures, results, and statistical information. Uganda Rugby is also available via WhatsApp Channel, simply tap the icon below to follow.