Uganda Cup: Rejuvenated Hippos host Impis in Round of 16

Hippos RFC will start their Uganda Cup campaign by hosting Impis RFC at the Ruckyard in Jinja.

The Hippos had a National 15s season to forget as it ended in relegation for the former title contenders. However, they received a breath of new life in the National 7s, making some signings in the mid-season window, and putting up good performances despite finishing 10th out of 12 teams. In the regular 15s season, Impis thumped Hippos 36 – 16 in Jinja, but when the Makerere boys visit Stone City in the Uganda Cup, it may not be a walk in the park again.

On the other hand, Impis have been on a roll, on and off the pitch, and they hope to carry this momentum into the Uganda Cup. For Alvin Nkamba, the goal is simple.

“Our plan is to win each game we play in the Uganda Cup, starting with Hippos this weekend. We also want to check our systems and departments,” notes the Impis coach.

Both Hippos and Impis made it to the quarterfinal of the 2025 edition of the Uganda Cup, but now they meet in the Round of 16, where only one of them can advance. Despite Impis finishing in the semifinal of the Premiership, it is the Hippos that have had more consistent and competitive games in the National 7s. Impis is aware of this but maintains that they are going to stick to their processes.

“We don’t intend on changing how we play because we trust our game plan. It’s always good to play top opposition and I believe that we have evolved as well,” Nkamba remarks.

The winner of this fixture will go on to face the winner of the game between the Kitgum Lions and Buffaloes in the quarterfinal of the 2026 Uganda Cup.

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