Uganda: East African Team to Be Revived

Andrew Mwanguhya

20 July 2011

Kampala — President Museveni in his 2006 election manifesto told the electorate they should vote for him so he could fulfil the dream of Ugandans’ political fathers – that of regional integration.

That dream, he said, could be achieved as early as 2013, at which there would be a single President for an East African Federation that includes Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania Rwanda and Burundi. You can add South Sudan once they finalise the formalities.

Whether that vision will be achieved in the next 17 months is open to debate but what is not is sports, which is most oft left on the peripheral of national discussions, is taking the early lead. Established six decades ago by British colonialists, a single regional rugby team called East Africa, who drew players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, encouraged provincial competition. However, it was not until 1972 that the first black indigenous player featured on the white settlers-dominated East Africa.

Tours

They conducted seven international tours between 1954 and ’82 but for the last 20 years have been dormant. But governing body Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) still exist and are out to revive a single regional team dubbed the EA Tuskers, which will not affect the three countries’ 15s and 7s rugby.

“When we are playing in East Africa, we are at home,” said RFUEA’s patron George Kariuki at Kyadondo on Saturday where Kenya defended the Elgon Cup despite losing to Uganda 32-18. The champions had carried in a healthy lead from Nairobi. “We’ll be touring and also inviting English counties, the Springboks…”

According to local rugby chief William Blick (pictured left), the best players from the Elgon Cup will pioneer and the first match is slated for June 2012.

AllAfrica – All the Time