The 2026 Uganda Rugby Premiership has been cut down to four, and the semi finals promise two very different but equally compelling contests. It all kicks off this weekend, with both games set for 4:00 PM kickoff.
Saturday 6th – SF2: Impis vs Toyota Buffaloes | Makerere, 4:00 PM
The Fairytale at Home vs The Side That Found a Way in the Quarters
Impis are the story of the season. Relegated in 2024, they fought their way back through the Championship playoffs and are now in the semis after knocking out KOBs in the quarters. That alone makes them dangerous — they’re playing with belief, energy, and nothing to lose. Their quarter-final comeback summed up their never-say-die attitude, and now they get to do it at home on Makerere’s turf.
Buffaloes got through a tight quarter against Plascon Mongers and have shown they can absorb pressure and strike late. Their set piece is solid and their game management has been calm when games get scrappy. But they’ll have to do it in front of Impis’ home crowd.
The last time these two met was Game Week 9, and Buffaloes won 24-7. Impis led 7-0 at halftime, but Buffaloes flipped it after the break with a strong second-half performance and multiple tries from their bench. That result will sit in Impis’ minds, but it also shows they can match Buffaloes for 40 minutes.
This semi comes down to whether Impis can maintain that intensity for 80 minutes with the home support behind them. If they start fast and keep their discipline, they can push Buffaloes to the brink. If Buffaloes weather the storm like they did in GW9, their composure and finishing could see them through to their first final in the current playoff era.
Sunday 7th – SF1: Platinum Credit Heathens vs Stanbic Black Pirates | Kyadondo, 4:00 PM
The Only Team to Beat the Champions.
This is the tie everyone had circled. Pirates are the defending champions, coming off a dominant quarter-final performance where they swept Walukuba Barbarians aside with ease. They’ve controlled games through territory and pace, and haven’t lost composure even when pushed. But they’ll have to do it at Kyadondo, where Heathens beat them 30-26 in the regular season.
Heathens come into this one with belief and pedigree, and they’ve earned it. That 30-26 win at home gave them a blueprint: win the breakdown, slow Pirates’ ball, and stay patient in attack. They backed it up by grinding out a tough two-leg quarter-final win over Victoria Sharks, winning ugly when it mattered.
This is two clubs with title experience going head to head, and Heathens get the advantage of a home semi. The only regular-season meeting went their way at Kyadondo, but both know what it takes to win at this stage.
Running the semis on different days gives fans a rare chance to catch both games live, instead of having to pick one. Saturday at Makerere, Sunday at Kyadondo — it’s a proper rugby weekend, and both semis are set up to be tight, physical contests decided in the final quarter.
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.
