Uganda have fired a massive warning shot to the rest of Africa’s rugby nations, getting the last laugh in 2026 to claim the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens championship and qualify as the continent’s representative at the HSBC SVNS 3 tournament, set to take place in Dubai in a fortnight.

The Lady Cranes came into the weekend’s competition at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, Kenya, with stiff competition, coming up against the likes of rapidly improving sides Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, as well the South Africa Women’s ‘A’ side, and the strong favourites for the weekend, the Kenya Lionesses.

The hosts had also held the rub of the green against the Ugandans across the year, with the Lionesses impressing across the National 7s Circuit, and as well as putting the Ugandans to the sword when they claimed the Safari Sevens last month, winning 22-5.

The Kenyans were also fresh off claiming a gold medal in the Youth Olympics rugby sevens in Dakar earlier this month, further adding to the momentum for the program with several players from that campaign also included in the side.

However, the Lady Cranes would get revenge on their rivals in the final tournament of the year.

Meeting in the semi final, the Lady Cranes flew out of the blocks with tries to Grace Nabugala and Peace Lekuru, before Kenya responded through Freshia Oduor, the score 12-7 at halftime.

The hosts briefly took the lead late in the second half through a try to Jane Okello – however, a second try to Lekuru in the final play of the match stunned the hosts, the score finishing 19-14.

Uganda then breezed past Tunisia 33-0 in the final to claim the continental title for the first time ever and to book their tickets to Dubai for SVNS 3, capping off a stellar weekend in Nairobi that marked an enormous step forward for women’s rugby in the country.

Despite the disappointment in the final, the result also marked a massive step forward for Tunisia’s women’s rugby program, marking their best finish in the tournament since 2013.

For Kenya, who accounted for Zimbabwe 27-7 in the bronze medal match, it marked a disappointing end to the year to miss out on the chance to push their chase for SVNS Series and Olympic qualification in Dubai.

However, head coach Simon Odongo vowed to take lessons from the result to ensure the side returns stronger in 2027.

“It was a tough loss, especially with Uganda scoring the winner with the last play of the game,” Odongo told The Star.

“It hurt, but those are the margins of sevens rugby. They are very small, and we have to be better equipped next time around.

“The girls are disappointed, but the future is bright for this team, especially with the many young faces coming through and giving the established players competition. We will be back to reclaim our crown very soon.”

It was a similarly disappointing weekend for South Africa Women’s ‘A’ side, who finished in sixth place with a 17-12 loss to Zambia, also losing to Uganda 24-17 in the quarterfinals earlier that day.

Uganda will now turn their attention to the 2026 HSBC SVNS 3 tournament, which will take place on 28-29 November 2026 in Dubai, the same weekend as the first leg of the 2026-27 SVNS Series.