Rugby Cranes stand-in coach Brian Makalama has named the team that will represent Uganda in the Rugby Africa Pool C games starting this week.
The 28-man squad was named on Monday morning and ten members of the Betway Kobs championship-winning team included on the roster.
Veteran Brian Odongo leads the group from the Blue Army and will have players like Collins Kimbowa, Pius Ogena, Saul Kivumbi, Faragi Odugo and Robert Aziku for the company in national colours.
Byron Oketayot, Daudi Ssemwami, Justin Kimono, Alhajji Manano and Adrian Kasito are the others.
The Rugby Cranes will play their first game on Saturday 10th July
2021 against Ghana at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds.
”The selected team is a mixture of experience and youthfulness," Makalama revealed after naming the team, he added.
"We tried to get the team that has individuals with basic skills, individuals that can think on their own and individuals that are not shy to exploit their talent.”
Uganda is one of the host countries of the group games alongside Kenya, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
The top two teams from each of the four groups will progress to the third and final round of the Rugby Africa Cup in 2022.
There will be an 8-team knockout tournament played from the quarterfinals stage with the winner earning a direct ticket to the 2022 Rugby World Cup.
Uganda’s Men fixture:
July 10 – Ghana Vs Uganda
July 18 – Uganda Vs Algeria
Selected 28-man squad.
1. Santos Ssenteza (Heathens)
2. Brian Odongo (KOBs)
3. Collin Kimbowa (KOBs)
4. Saul Kivumbi (KOBs)
5. Asuman Mugerwa (Kabras)
6. Faragi Odugo (KOBs)
7. Ronald Kanyanya (Heathens)
8. Robert Angualia Aziku (KOBs)
9. Eliphaz Emong (Hippos)
10. Joaquim Chissano Olwangu (Mongers)
11. Kelvin Balagadde Pirates
12. Byron Oketayot KOBs
13. Jacob Ochen (Hippos)
14. Desire Ayera Ruhweza (Pirates)
15. Isaac Rujumba Karugaba (Pirates)
16. Mark Omoding (Harlequins)
17. Paul Epilo (Heathens)
18. Aaron Ofoyrwoth (Heathens)
19. Ivan Magomu (Pirates)
20. Daudi Semwami (KOBs)
21. Pius Ogena (KOBs)
22. Justin Kimono Simwende (KOBs)
23. Alhaji Manano (KOBs)
24. Solomon Okia Saulo (Pirates)
25. Maxwell Ebonga (Hippos)
26. Claude Otema (Heathens)
27. Adrian Kasito (KOBs)
28. Denis Etwau (Hippos)
Debutants on the team*
1. Denis Etwau
2. Mark Omoding
3. Jacob Ochen
4. Joaquim Chisano
5. Kelvin Balagadde
6. Isaac Rujumba
7. Claude Otema
8. Alhaji Manano