Uganda’s rugby fraternity is preparing to bid farewell to one of its most enduring and influential figures, Michael Wokorach, who will retire from active rugby at the end of 2025. His final appearance is scheduled for 20 December 2025, bringing to a close a career that has spanned 19 years at the highest level of the game.
Widely known by his nickname“Gonya”, Wokorach has been a central pillar of Uganda Rugby, currently turning out for Heathens RFC, where he plays as a loose forward and center, Wokorach remains a key figure on and off the pitch. His rugby journey began with Buffaloes RFC between 2006 and 2007 before he joined Heathens RFC in 2008, a club he has loyally served for 18 years.
At the international level, Wokorach has been a pillar of Ugandan rugby. He earned 54 test caps for the Rugby Cranes XVs, representing the national side between 2009 and 2019, and later from 2021 to 2023. In sevens rugby, he featured prominently for Uganda Sevens from 2009 to 2023, playing a central role in the team’s rise on the continental and global stage. He also represented Rugby Uganda Legends during the same period and was named in the Uganda All Stars squad in 2025.
Despite his veteran status, Wokorach has remained competitive in the domestic game. During the 2025 Rugby Premiership, he featured in eight matches, starting five, averaging 61.75 minutes per game and scoring eight tries at an impressive rate of 1.30 tries per 80 minutes. In the 2025 Uganda Cup, he started all six matches, averaged 71.33 minutes per game and crossed the try line five times.
Wokorach’s honours list reflects an exceptional career. He is an 11-time Rugby Premiership champion, lifting the title across multiple eras between 2009 and 2024. He has also won the Uganda Cup seven times, the National Sevens Series six times, and the Makerere 10s on three occasions. On the regional front, he was part of Uganda’s Elgon Cup-winning teams in 2012 and 2015, the Victoria Cup-winning side in 2023, and the Elgon Warriors team of 2012.
On the continental stage, Wokorach helped Uganda claim the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens title three times (2016, 2017 and 2022) and finished runner-up on two occasions. He also featured in two Rugby Sevens World Cups (2018 and 2022), famously helping Uganda secure the Bowl title at the 2022 tournament, and represented the country at four Commonwealth Games between 2010 and 2022.
Individually, his impact has been widely recognized. He was named Uganda Rugby Union MVP in 2013 and 2015, finished as Rugby Premiership top try scorer in 2015, won MVP honours at the Makerere 7s in 2014, and was crowned USPA Player of the Year in both 2013 and 2015.
As Wokorach approaches the final chapter of his playing career, his influence on Ugandan rugby is unquestionable. From club dominance to continental success and global appearances, his consistency, leadership and longevity have set a standard for generations to come.
His final match on 20 December 2025 is expected to be both a celebration and a moment of reflection, marking the end of an era and honouring a player whose contribution to the game will resonate long after the final whistle.
Uganda has intensified her preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 with an 11-day training camp in Casablanca, Morocco, as the team targets a strong return to the continent’s premier football competition. This marks the Cranes’ first AFCON appearance since 2019.
Seventeen players reported for the initial phase of the camp, with the remaining 13 joining the squad later, bringing the full provisional group to 30. Head coach Paul Put remains focused on maximizing the team’s readiness despite the staggered arrivals, emphasizing discipline, tactical cohesion, and physical conditioning.
Uganda has been placed in a formidable Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Nigeria one of the most competitive pools of the tournament. The Cranes will be looking to surpass their 2019 campaign, where they progressed to the Round of 16 before bowing out to Senegal.
Put’s provisional squad reflects a strategic blend of experience and rising talent. Legendary goalkeeper Denis Onyango makes a highly anticipated return to the national setup, leading a group of four goalkeepers. At the other end of the spectrum, teenage star James Bogere earns his first senior call-up after an impressive run at the U17 World Cup in Qatar, signaling Uganda’s commitment to nurturing future stars.
The squad also welcomes back Baba AlhassanandMelvyn Lorenzen, both of whom left a strong impression in Uganda’s international friendlies last November.
Defensively, Uganda will rely on a solid mix of overseas and local-based talent, including Toby Sibbick of Burton Albion, Jordan Obita, Abdu Azizi Kayondo, and SC Villa captain David Owori. The midfield will be anchored by the experienced Khalid Aucho, expected to provide leadership and stability as the Cranes navigate their tough group fixtures.
Uganda kicks off its AFCON campaign on 23 December against Tunisia before facing Nigeria and Tanzania. With renewed energy, a refreshed squad, and strong leadership on and off the pitch, the Cranes are determined to write a new chapter in their AFCON story.
As the countdown to Morocco 2025 intensifies, the nation will be watching closely and hoping for a historic run.
More than 99,000 trainees in Nursing, Midwifery, and clinical health programs are sitting for their final national examinations administered by the Uganda Health Professions Assessment Board (UHPAB) a major step toward strengthening Uganda’s health-training system
The state Minister of Higher Education, Hon. Dr. J.C. Muyingo toured several training institutions in Kampala to monitor the exercise, accompanied by Dr. Safinah Musene, Commissioner for Health Education, Helen Mukakarisa Kataratambi, UHPAB Executive Secretary and senior Ministry officials.
At Butabika School of Psychiatric Nursing, the Minister interacted with candidates undertaking practical exams, with Principal Harriet Kwagala confirming smooth implementation and strong preparedness. The team later inspected Kibuli Muslim Hospital Health Training School, where over 600 trainees are doing their final practicals. Hospital Director Dr. El-Gazah and Principal Halimah Nanziri Mayanja commended the Ministry for consistent support.
UHPAB’s Executive Secretary reported that 99,751 trainees30,184 from clinical programsand69,567 from Nursing and Midwiferyare being assessed across 215 centers in 233 institutions nationwide. She thanked the Government and the First Lady, Mama Janet Kataaha Museveni, for ensuring well-funded and well-coordinated examinations aligned with modern standards.
Dr. Musene noted that continued government investment has equipped institutions with essential training materials, directly strengthening Uganda’s future health workforce. Minister Muyingo reaffirmed the NRM government’s commitment to high-quality health-sciences training and applauded UHPAB for effectively managing one of the sector’s largest examination exercises.
The Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in Uganda begun construction of its new headquarters in Kyambogo, with the project commissioned in October 2023 by the Minister for Education and Sports, Janet Museveni. The construction is a joint effort funded by the government of Uganda and the Islamic Development Bank.
The new building aligns with the government’s initiative to curtail rental expenses. The headquarters complex will consist of two towers, one with eight floors and the other with ten floors. Additionally, the complex will include a 600-seat auditorium and two parking decks. Upon completion, the headquarters will be capable of accommodating more than 700 staff improving coordination among departments and enhancing efficiency.
