Uganda once again pulled a rabbit out of the hat coming from 12 points down to see off World Cup bound Namibia, in a Confederation of Africa Rugby game played at Kampala Rugby Club over the weekend, in  what will count as Uganda’s hugest victory to date.
Led by towering captain Adrian Bukenya the 15 men of Uganda answered every question asked of them in the affirmative, having not been given a fighting chance before the game.

Namibia fresh from a European tournament started well spreading the ball wide and creating overlaps at will and were duly rewarded with a try scored in the corner by big prop Jane du Toit, the conversion was missed by fly half Melrick Africa. From the restart Uganda looked to have overcome their starting jitters but were still doing all the tackling with most of the possession with Namibia who were also winning the territorial battle. Uganda had a foray into the Namibia half and seemed to have scored an equalizing try but the referee ruled an offside and awarded a penalty to Namibia. This missed opportunity proved to be a 14 point loss as Namibia scored another try soon after through Mckenzie which was converted by fly half, Melrick Africa to bring the score to nil twelve for Namibia with 20 minutes gone. Things looked ominous for Uganda but they came out fighting taking the game to the Namibians with some committed tackling and brilliant runs let down by some loose handling on the final pass and indecision at key moments.
Uganda finally got on the score sheet through a solo effort try by the mercurial enigmatic fullback Simon Wakabi. Collecting a kick from his own 22 (similar to the inspired move against Cote d’ Ivoire) running in his custom, weavy languid way breaking a couple of tackles before rounding the full back to score between the posts, scrum half Anthony Kinene added the extras to bring the score to 7 to 12. The doubters were beginning to believe and even the confidence of the hither to bullish Namibians was waning as none of the Ugandans seemed to miss a tackle and when they did the cover came from all over.

With half time drawing close talismanic captain Adrian Bukenya couldn’t have picked a better moment to score a try. From a breakdown the ball was passed to him and seeing that the Namibia line was flat chipped through for his winger to run onto, the bounce of the rugby ball still remains a mystery, and in this case Adrian was able to re-gather his kick as the Namibian fullback struggled to stay on his feet and canter in for a dive try which sent the crowd into rapture and Uganda led 14- 12 at halftime.
Second half and referee Mark Lawrence had to go off injured after a collision with a Namibian player in the first half meant he could not continue and was replaced by touch judge Roderick Barry.

The second half was more of the same with Uganda showing resolute discipline and commitment in defence and counter attacking at every opportunity. A huge hit in midfield on the Namibia fly half saw him isolated and guilty of holding onto the ball on the ground. The resulting penalty right in front of the posts was missed by Kinene and you could hear the groans around the country, had the Morrocco ghost returned to haunt us? One wondered. Wakabi took over the kicking duties and was not any more successful.
The Namibians were soon awarded a penalty of their own for an infringement at the ruck. They opted for a kick to touch and from the resulting lineout showed some of the ruthlessness they are reputed for; mauling Uganda all of 25 metres to score their third try through Jacque Nieuwenhuis, which was converted by the flyhalf giving Namibia the ascendancy 19 to 14.
The boys didn’t give up, once again from some Samoan style tackling the Namibians spilled the ball which the poacher Allan Musoke picked up on the wing. With no one in front of him you believed this was it, and as he was run down by the Namibian defence, he chipped into the midfield. Mathias Ochwo was infringed by the Namibians as he run onto it lead the referee to award Uganda a penalty which Wakabi- having found his kicking boots- converted to bring Uganda within 2 points. 5 minutes later and from another Penalty Wakabi scored the go ahead penalty and the game was on a knife’s edge at 20-19. A nail biting, orange sucking, last 5 minutes was finally brought to an end when the Namibians in the last of their many assaults to the Ugandan line lost the ball forward and from the scrum Captain courageous Adrian Bukenya run out with the ball and the final whistle went sending fans and players alike into wild celebrations as the stunned Namibians looked on. To sum it up a truly physical and epic encounter, the stuff of legends!!!

Man of the Match
The whole team deserved the points for this one, resolute and defiant in defence but Robert Seguya was awarded the Man of the match for his no nonsense carrying of the ball and all round industry in attack and defense.