Dennis Etwau in action for the Ugandan rugby team in a previous tournament / HANDOUTThe Uganda Emerging Sevens team will make a long-awaited return to the Driftwood Sevens when they compete in the 36th edition of the tournament at the Mombasa Sports Club on August 22-23.
The Ugandan side will be appearing at the coastal tournament for the first time in 13 years, adding an exciting regional dimension to one of Kenya’s most popular stops on the National Sevens Circuit.
Their participation follows the appearance of another Ugandan outfit, Ruga Ruga Select, at the 2025 Christie 7s in Nairobi, underlining the growing cross-border collaboration between the two rugby nations.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) director of fixtures and leagues, Leslie Mwangale, welcomed Uganda’s participation, describing it as another step in strengthening regional rugby ties that have gained momentum since the resumption of cross-border competition through the Enterprise Cup earlier this year.
“Having the Uganda Emerging side in the competition will help build the rivalry between the two nations and enable us to have a more competitive tournament in Mombasa,” said Mwangale.
He expressed hope that the initiative would pave the way for greater regional participation in Kenya’s sevens circuit and eventually lead to the creation of an African Sevens Series.
“I hope this is the start of something good for rugby in the region. In future, we can bring on board teams from countries such as Zimbabwe and Zambia to feature in our sevens competitions, and ultimately look at establishing an Africa Sevens Series,” he added.
Uganda’s participation is also expected to enhance the tournament’s regional appeal, with supporters from both Kenya and Uganda anticipated to flock to Mombasa for the two-day competition.
The Emerging Cranes, however, will face a stern examination against some of Kenya’s top sevens sides, including defending champions KCB RFC, Kabras Sugar, Menengai Oilers, Strathmore Leos, Kenya Harlequin and Blak Blad.
KCB head into this year’s tournament as defending champions after edging Strathmore Leos 15-14 in a thrilling final at the Mombasa Sports Club last year.
The bankers will be aiming to retain the title, while Uganda’s young side will be eager to announce its return with a strong showing against the country’s elite clubs.
