The semi-finals of this season’s Nile Special Rugby Premiership begin this weekend with plenty of attention on the clash between Black Pirates and Heathens at Kyadondo on Sunday, June 7.
Pirates arrive from Nairobi after losing 12-25 to Kenya’s Kabras Sugar in the Enterprise Cup final. Yet, despite the weight attached to that rivalry, much of the conversation in Ugandan rugby circles has centred on the remarkable rise of Impis Rugby Club.
Impis host Toyota Buffaloes in the first leg of their semi-final at the Graveyard in Makerere this Saturday, June 6, having already produced one of the biggest stories of the season. The university side reached the last four at the expense of 13-time champions KCB Kobs.
After losing the first leg 12-23, Impis stunned Kobs by winning the return leg 30-10 at Legends, overturning the deficit in dramatic fashion. For many, it ranks among the greatest comebacks in Ugandan rugby history.
What makes the achievement more remarkable is that Impis were only promoted from the second tier at the end of 2025. Most expected survival in the top flight to be their main target this season.
Instead, the youthful side, made up largely of Makerere University students with an average age of 21, have gone beyond expectations. Coach Alvin Nkamba insists the club is simply fulfilling its ambitions.
“We have not exceeded our season’s expectations like many would want to suggest,” Nkamba said.
“Our target, once we got promoted, was to make sure that we win as many rugby games as possible.” That confidence is reflected in the club’s famous tagline, “Arrogance.”
While many teams adopt slogans built around resilience, Impis openly embrace belief in themselves. They briefly led the league standings early in the season and regularly reminded followers on social media that they were “lonely at the top” after back-to-back wins over Warriors and Heathens.
Nkamba credits the club’s transformation to improved management and planning following relegation in 2024.
“Whatever we have done so far this season has been built on the team’s belief,” he explained. “But that has largely come about as a result of the streamlined management at the club.”
A major overhaul saw older players cleared out to create room for fresh talent. Impis now have a squad of about 60 players, with only four non-students. Traditionally, Makerere’s best rugby players moved on to established clubs like Heathens, Kobs and Pirates after graduation.
But under chairman Begumire Nyombi and with support from the university, Impis are building a more semi-professional structure aimed at keeping talent longer. Former Kobs chairman and Impis alumnus Stone Luggya has returned in a consultative role to support the revival.
Impis last won the league in 1996. Now, after beating both Kobs and Heathens in the same season, they believe they can challenge the established order once again. Although they lost 7-24 to Buffaloes during the regular season, Impis’ tactical growth and expanded coaching set-up suggest underestimating them could prove costly.