The Kyabazinga 7s returns to Bugembe this weekend as the fifth stop of the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series, bringing the country’s top men’s and women’s sides to Jinja for two days of high tempo sevens rugby.
Hosted by Walukuba Barbarians in partnership with Busoga Kingdom and Uganda Rugby, the tournament takes place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. The staging of the Kyabazinga 7s is closely linked to Busoga Kingdom’s cultural calendar and the coronation anniversary of the Kyabazinga William Gabula Nadiope IV. Although the Kingdom’s main coronation events have been moved to 19 September in Mayuge, the rugby stop remains a highlight of Kyabazinga Week in Bugembe.
Form and favourites
Walukuba Barbarians arrive in Bugembe as the defending men’s champions and will also enjoy home advantage. The Jinja side opened the 2026 series by winning the Stone City 7s — beating Toyota Buffaloes in the finals 12–10 before bowing out to Rams in the Kyadondo 7s quarter finals. Their strong start to the season and local support make them one of the teams to watch.
Nile Rapids are the form team in the women’s competition. The Jinja outfit claimed the opening Stone City 7s title (7–5 over Thunderbirds), remained competitive through the Rujumba 7s, lost the Kyadondo crown to Thunderbirds, then recovered to win Stop Four, the Lawii Rwodi 7s in Gulu. That sequence of performances puts Nile Rapids among the favourites to retain their title in Bugembe.
Series context
The Kyabazinga 7s follows a one week break after the Lawii Rwodi 7s (29–30 August) at Gulu University Grounds, where Platinum Credit Heathens (men) and Nile Rapids (women) earned stop four honours. With only two stops remaining before the series Grand Finale at Wankulukuku, teams are aiming for valuable points as the overall title race remains widely competitive.
Kyabazinga 7s Roll of honour
Since its introduction in 2022, the Kyabazinga 7s has produced a varied roll of honour:
- 2022 — Men: Jinja Hippos; Women: Avengers
- 2023 — Men: Stanbic Black Pirates; Women: Black Pearls
- 2024 — Men: Platinum Credit Heathens; Women: Avengers
- 2025 — Men: Walukuba Barbarians; Women: Nile Rapids
2026 Kyabazinga 7s Pools
Follow all action via the Official Uganda Rugby social pages.