Before the 2025 Nile Special Rugby Sevens season started on August 2, only the Walukuba Barbarians fancied themselves to win the title.
The general consensus in the rugby fraternity favoured the Heathens, Pirates, Kobs, and maybe the Jinja Hippos to be one of the last men standing. The aforementioned had won the 7s title before in recent years. Yet, as dusk fell on Kyadondo rugby grounds on Sunday, September 28, Walukuba were the ones celebrating long into the night, as the 2025 sevens champions.
This may have surprised many, but in retrospect, it was long time coming. Since 2021, while still in the second tier league, Walukuba has been competing in the 7s championship, punching above their weight against the more established teams.
Although they did not win oftentimes, Walukuba were a competitive side, a facet they have built to this point. Derrick Abigaba is a 15s player at Walukuba, who joined the club while in high school. Although he does not take part in 7s competitions, he is well aware of what it has taken to get them to the podium.
“I joined Walukuba in 2018. I was scouted by coach Leonard Lubambula, as he has largely done when it comes to the entire Walukuba squad.”
Abigaba went on to reveal how the coaching they have been exposed to over the years has improved so many players. This is laid more credence by the fact that Lubambula is the Rugby Cranes 15s assistant head coach.
In addition, Abigaba noted that for a number of the players on the 7s team such as Shakim Ssembusi, Gift Wokorach, Ahmed Ssekyanzi, Matthew Oluka and Edward Emiemu have grown up at the club under the tutelage of Lubambula. Add some senior players like Bob Kawanda, who have been at it for over five years, competing against familiar opponents, Walukuba has built a fearless mentality.
Abigaba said that during the preparations for the 7s championship, Lubambula told them this was their time to win. When asked about it, Lubambula, who is part of the founding members of the club, which was started in 2012, said: “Right through the 15s season that ran between January and May, we were a competitive side. Although we came short, we were learning every time and, therefore, getting better. But next season, we are definitely going to be better because we are introducing some new, vibrant young players, who should give us more firepower to compete.”
Notably, because of Lubambula’s involvement in shaping this team over the last eight or so years, the team chemistry has shaped up quite well. It was quite clear that during this year’s 7s championship, there was a telepathic understanding among the players, which showed in the brilliant team coordination while on the field of play.
Looking back at Walukuba’s performances in 2023 and 2024, the ultimate result in 2025 does not come as a surprise. For example, Walukuba won the Mileke 7s in Tororo in 2023, their maiden circuit win, when they beat the Pirates.
At the end of that campaign, Walukuba, with an average age of 24 were seventh of 16 teams. In 2022, with largely the same team as they do today, they were tenth while last year, they were fifth. This is a pointer to the organic progress the club has been making over the years.
For some of Walukuba’s critics, they feel that with the size of their players, they are largely built for 7s rugby. But Lubambula dismissed that, insisting that they are built for all codes, and next up in their line of fire is the Uganda Cup, a 15s mode, which should propel them to their bigger goal, the 15s league in which they finished at the quarterfinals earlier this year.
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