‘They’re The Eighth Player’: Uganda Rugby Star Okello Calls On Kampala Crowd Ahead Of World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers

From playing Tag Rugby at Kyadondo at five years old to joining Uganda’s Sevens charge, Malcolm Okello has come full circle. Now, he wants the home crowd to help push Uganda to qualification. (Match Schedule, copyright free images, fixtures and streaming information below)

KAMPALA, Uganda – Malcolm Okello is yet another product of Uganda’s widening rugby supply chain, where the best young talent is identified and nurtured across different levels of the sport.

The highlight of Okello’s career to date has been captaining Uganda’s Under-20 team in the full format of the game at the Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy in Kenya in 2022. He has not stopped there, quickly rising through the ranks to become one of the most talked-about players in the rugby-mad East African nation.

The Africa Men’s Sevens Series: World Rugby SVNS 3 Africa Qualifiers in the Ugandan capital Kampala this weekend provide a platform for Okello to further cement his place in the hearts of Uganda Rugby Cranes fans, who will turn out at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in full voice to spur the host side towards qualification.

Okello is looking forward to the challenge, having swiftly adjusted from the 15-a-side format to the game’s shortest version.

“My transition from Under-20 rugby, the Baby Cranes, to the national Sevens team, has been a journey encouraged by my coaches, teammates, and family,” Okello tells Rugby Africa Media.

“It was not an easy one, because it required me to be consistent, working hard and doing the extra workouts off the training schedule. The coaches and management helped me become a better player. Not forgetting my teammates, they made me believe and trust the system.”

Okello now plays his domestic rugby at Heathens RFC, one of Uganda’s biggest clubs.

Representing Uganda at Kyadondo in a crucial international tournament, in which only one team secures qualification, will be a reminder of how far Okello has come. The famed Kampala ground, which holds so many fond memories of Ugandan rugby, was where it all started for Okello as a five-year-old.

“I started playing rugby as a young boy in 2007 at Kyadondo under coaches Christine Kizito, Peter Ochol, Charles Onen, and Tolbert Onyango,” he says.

“They all helped me go through the transformation. I played Tag Rugby from 2007 to 2011 then graduated to contact rugby in 2012 playing for Tigers and Stallions. Then I graduated to Heathens, which is the top side at Kyadondo, until now.

We’ve played in the First Division and won various trophies like league titles, the Uganda Cup and Uganda Sevens Series.”

The Uganda Sevens star playmaker, who thrives on creating space for his teammates, was fortunate to grow up surrounded by role models, beginning at family level.

“I was inspired to play rugby by my older brother, Jasper Ochen, who represented Uganda at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014,” comments Okello.

“Jasper also went through the same grooming system at Kyadondo. He also represented Uganda at all age-groups as well as the senior 15s and Sevens teams.”

Phillip Wokorach, arguably Uganda’s finest rugby player of his era, is also somebody Okello looks up to, and shares similar attributes with.

“He also inspired me, and we come from the same neighbourhood,” Okello remarks.

“I admire him for the success he has had in the sport of rugby, and how he has helped put his country and team on the map.”

The eight-team tournament will be contested by hosts Uganda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Morocco and Zambia.

Okello has confidence in the Cranes Rugby Sevens’ ability to seal qualification on home soil. The team crowned champions in Kampala will secure Africa’s place in the 2027 World Rugby HSBC SVNS 3.

“Team goals are mainly taking one game at a time, and staying disciplined and staying focused,” Okello says.

“We’ve had time together, we had a couple of preparation tournaments and I believe the team chemistry is up there. I like to thank the Uganda Rugby Union and the team coach Allan Otim and the team management for the time and sacrifices. And God willing, I will make the team.”

The roar and sheer passion of the Kampala crowd is well known on the African rugby scene, and Okello is urging the home fans to play a key role one more time.

“We are really happy to represent our country on home soil, in front of our lovely Ugandan fans and families,” he says.

“Having the home crowd on our side will surely be a plus for us. They’re the eighth player. We are really grateful to have them around.”

Pool A

• Zimbabwe
• Nigeria
• Ghana
• Morocco

Pool B

• Uganda
• Zambia
• Tunisia
• Senegal

 

Where to watch?

Rugby Pass TV: https://rugbypass.tv/home

Rugby Africa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RugbyAfricaOfficial

Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique

 

Saturday, 26 September 2026 (EAT)

• 12:00 — Nigeria vs Ghana
• 12:22 — Zimbabwe vs Morocco
• 12:44 — Zambia vs Tunisia
• 13:06 — Uganda vs Senegal
• 14:44 — Nigeria vs Morocco
• 15:06 — Zimbabwe vs Ghana
• 15:28 — Zambia vs Senegal
• 15:50 — Uganda vs Tunisia

 

Sunday, 27 September 2026 (EAT)

• 09:00 — Ghana vs Morocco
• 09:22 — Tunisia vs Senegal
• 09:44 — Zimbabwe vs Nigeria
• 10:06 — Uganda vs Zambia
• 12:28 — 5th Place Semi-Final 1 — 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B
• 12:50 — 5th Place Semi-Final 2 — 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A
• 13:12 — Cup Semi-Final 1 — 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B
• 13:34 — Cup Semi-Final 2 — 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A
• 15:12 — 7th Place Final — Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
• 15:36 — 5th Place Final — Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
• 16:03 — Bronze Final — Loser Cup SF1 vs Loser Cup SF2
• 16:40 — Cup Final — Winner Cup SF1 vs Winner Cup SF2
• 17:02 — Medal Presentation

 

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Written by Enock Muchinjo