Uganda Rugby’s 2026 season officially gets underway this weekend with the commencement of the Men’s Premiership and Women’s Premier League.

For core rugby fans who closely follow their favourite teams, the task is straightforward: go wherever their teams play. There is also a wider group of general sports fans who prefer to catch the headline rugby matches whenever and wherever they arise.

This guide, however, is tailored for a small but dedicated niche of rugby enthusiasts who—for their love of the game—plan to watch all twelve men’s teams and seven women’s teams, while visiting all nine venues at least once during the regular season.

By a mix of careful planning and happy coincidence, such fans will also get to experience many of the marquee fixtures that traditionally draw the biggest crowds.

Let’s dive in.

Round 1 – February 7 | Kings Park

2:00 PM: Black Pearls vs Ewes
4:00 PM: Pirates vs KOBs

There is no better way to open the season than watching the reigning champions. Both the Stanbic Black Pirates and the Black Pearls begin their title defences, with the Pirates facing arch-rivals KCB KOBs, the only team to beat them last season.

Round 2 – February 14 | Kakira Rugby Club

4:00 PM: Kakira Simba vs Hippos

Kakira Simba will be playing their first-ever top-flight season, and this fixture marks their maiden home match. Even better, it doubles as a Jinja derby against local giants Hippos at a venue few rugby fans have visited before.

Round 3 – February 21 | Busambaga, Entebbe

2:00 PM: Avengers vs Nile Rapids
4:00 PM: Mongers vs Impis

No rugby season is complete without a visit to the Entebbe peninsula. Watching rugby with Lake Victoria as the backdrop remains one of the most scenic experiences on the local rugby calendar.

Round 4 – February 28 | Kyadondo Rugby Club

2:00 PM: Thunderbirds vs Panthers
4:00 PM: Heathens vs Pirates

Round Four is all about pedigree. The fixture brings together the last two winners of the Men’s Premiership—Platinum Credit Heathens and Pirates—in what is always a heavyweight contest.

2:00 PM: Nile Rapids vs Black Pearls
4:00 PM: Hippos vs Warriors

The women’s champions of last season—Black Pearls (Premier League) and Nile Rapids (Uganda Cup)—meet at a familiar venue now under new management, offering a fresh and exciting matchday atmosphere.

Round 6 – March 14 | Kampala (Formerly Legends) Rugby Club

2:00 PM: Panthers vs Avengers
4:00 PM: Rhinos vs Buffaloes

The closure of Legends Bar & Restaurant once raised fears that rugby had exited Lugogo. Thankfully, that was not the case. This round, featuring three Kampala Rugby Club teams, serves as the final weekend before the season’s first break—perfect for a relaxed rugby sundowner.

March 21 – East Africa Enterprise Cup

The top four teams from the 2025 Uganda Cup will contest the quarterfinals of the East Africa Enterprise Cup against Kenyan opposition. Matches will be split across both sides of Mt. Elgon, which straddles the Uganda–Kenya border.

2:00 PM: Panthers vs Nile Rapids
4:00 PM: KOBs vs Heathens

Local rugby resumes briefly before another break, making this a must-watch weekend. The clash between KOBs and Heathens, the most successful men’s teams in Uganda, reignites one of the fiercest rivalries in the game.

The Easter holiday (April 5–6) and the following weekend will pause domestic action. While rugby fans will always find a way to watch the game, this period also offers a chance to spend time with loved ones and, for some, to travel across the border should Ugandan teams advance to the East Africa Enterprise Cup semi-finals.

Round 8 – April 18 | Abel Dhaira Memorial Stadium

Walukuba vs Impis

Round 9 – April 25 | Busamaga Grounds, Mbale

She Wolves vs Ewes

The Abel Dhaira Memorial Stadium in Jinja and Busamaga Grounds in Mbale are among the least visited rugby venues. These rounds provide a perfect opportunity to explore them before the women’s season concludes and the men’s league enters the playoffs.

2:00 PM | Kyadondo: VU Sharks vs Buffaloes
4:00 PM | Kings Park: Black Pearls vs Thunderbirds

This marks the final round of the women’s Premier League. Priority will be the rematch of last season’s title decider between Black Pearls and Thunderbirds. With good planning—and cooperative traffic—fans can still catch the men’s fixture at Kyadondo before crossing to Bweyogerere.

4:00 PM: Impis vs VU Sharks

The men’s Premiership round-robin concludes with the university derby between Impis and Sharks at The Graveyard, Makerere.

Kyadondo and Kampala Rugby Club will be the most visited venues, hosting matches twice each, reflecting their status as homes to the highest number of teams across both leagues. Meanwhile, Impis, Black Pearls, and Nile Rapids emerge as the most watched teams, appearing three times each in this schedule.

Overall, the first eleven weeks of the 2026 Uganda Rugby Men’s Premiership and Women’s Premier League present one of the most balanced distributions of teams and venues in recent seasons—rewarding fans willing to go the distance.