Momentum has quietly shifted in the Lady Rugby Cranes 15s camp, and all signs suggest the coming season could mark a defining chapter. After squeezing impressive results out of a rushed and unforgiving 2025 calendar, Uganda’s women now head into 2026 with time, structure and belief finally on their side.
Last year demanded instant cohesion. Limited preparation windows forced the Lady Cranes to learn on the run, yet they still emerged with four victories from six test matches, a return that underlined the depth and resilience growing within the squad. This time, the approach is different. Preparations for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Nairobi, scheduled for May 21–31, are already underway, with training blocks stretching ahead of the women’s domestic league.
Those early sessions carry a new rhythm, led by Muhammad Athiyo, a coach well known within Ugandan rugby circles. He steps into the role after Charles Onen’s stabilising tenure, during which the team climbed from Division II and successfully held their place in Division I. Athiyo inherits a side no longer fighting for survival, but one expected to push boundaries and redefine its ceiling.
His immediate challenge comes with early-season tests against Tunisia, fixtures designed to sharpen combinations before sterner opposition arrives. The squad’s spine remains strong, anchored by captain Angella Nanyonjo, with leadership depth provided by Peace Lekuru and Agnes Nakuya from the sevens programme. Around them, emerging talent continues to surface, including promising forwards such as Juliet Ainomugisha, adding weight to the team’s long-term ambitions.
Athiyo’s reputation as a relentless winner at club level with Heathens brings a clear shift in tone. The focus is no longer simply competing; it is about asserting dominance, especially in regional rivalries. For many within Ugandan rugby, the benchmark is clear: a statement performance against Kenya’s Lionesses must come before even contemplating a challenge against the mighty Springboks Women.
With time to prepare and expectations rising, the Lady Rugby Cranes enter 2026 not as hopeful participants, but as a side ready to demand respect.
