KOBs finally break trophy drought with Kyabazinga 7s triumph

KCB KOBs ended their wait for a tournament victory in the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series on Sunday after edging Rams RFC 22-19 to lift the Kyabazinga 7s title at Bugembe Stadium in Jinja.

The victory was KOBs’ first tournament triumph of the season and came with only one stop remaining in the series, giving the side renewed momentum in their pursuit of the overall title.

The Blue Army went through the two-day tournament unbeaten, scoring 127 points and conceding 72 in six matches.

KOBs started their campaign in Pool C on Saturday with a 17-10 victory over Rams before defeating Mbale Elephants 31-21.

They completed the group stage with a 19-10 win over Plascon Mongers to finish unbeaten and secure a place in the knockout stages.

On Sunday, KOBs returned to action with a 26-7 quarterfinal victory over Plascon Mongers before edging Stanbic Black Pirates 12-5 in the semifinal.

The results set up another meeting with Rams in the final, where KOBs had to come from behind to claim the trophy.

Rams started strongly and took a 12-5 lead into the break, putting KOBs under early pressure.

But KOBs responded after halftime, with Brian Wandera and Shafik Okole crossing for tries before Josiah Ssempeke and Rasul Abiriga added further scores as the side turned the match around.

Rams mounted a late comeback, but KOBs held on to win 22-19 and secure the Kyabazinga 7s crown.

Noela Byuma, head of Marketing and Communications at KCB Bank Uganda, congratulated the team on the victory, saying the result demonstrated the value of persistence.

“This victory is a powerful reminder that success is often built through persistence. KCB KOBs have continued to show up, compete, and push themselves even when the results did not immediately go their way, and this trophy is a reward for that resilience,” Byuma said.

The victory also improved KOBs’ position in the race for the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series title.

The team entered the Kyabazinga 7s in fourth place with 60 series points. Their tournament victory added 22 points, taking their tally to 82 with one stop remaining.

KOBs captain Josiah Ssempeke said the victory could provide the confidence needed to challenge for more silverware.

“It feels great to win the Kyabazinga 7s after having near misses in the previous stops. It’s going to be a stepping stone for us in general to get back to fighting for Gold in both 7s and 15s,” Ssempeke said.

“We’ll maintain the same focus going into the last stop and hope for the best.”

Coach Trevor Tusiime attributed the victory to the team’s gradual improvement throughout the series.

“We have been knocking on the door for quite a while. I think the squad has been performing tremendously well over the stops, with progress in every circuit regardless of who is playing and who is not,” Tusiime said.

“I am not shocked we are winning it at this stage; rather, the system was not built for immediate glory but to stick for years of future 7s success regardless of who is playing.”

He said the victory had created positive momentum within the team as it heads into the final tournament.

Attention now turns to the Kabaka Coronation 7s, the final stop of the Uganda Rugby 7s Series, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Mutesa II Royal Stadium, Wankulukuku.

KOBs will also turn their attention to the Uganda Cup season, with the side hoping to carry their Jinja momentum into the 15-a-side campaign.

After several near misses this season, the Kyabazinga 7s victory gives KOBs their first major piece of silverware and leaves them with one final opportunity to challenge for the overall 7s series crown.

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