The Saidi Torin rugby journey is rewriting Uganda’s rugby narrative. In just two years, Saidi turned Kakira from a quiet sugar town into a fast-growing rugby stronghold. His journey, fueled by passion and purpose, reflects how one man’s vision can uplift a community through sport.
Kakira, located near Jinja in eastern Uganda, is more than a town—it is a symbol of resilience. Built on sugarcane labor, it has raised generations of strong, athletic youth. However, it lacked access to structured sports like rugby. Recognizing this, Saidi Torin saw an opportunity and acted.
Saidi’s love for the game began early. As a boy at St. Jude Primary School in Kampala, he discovered rugby through the Tag Rugby program. What started as fun soon turned into a calling. By 2006, he was representing Kyadondo’s youth team in England. Playing at Twickenham Stadium before a crowd of over 81,000 during a Test match between England and South Africa was life-changing.
“That was the day my heart settled on rugby,” he says.
Upon returning home, he continued developing his skills at City High and Kyambogo. He played for several clubs including Saracens, Stallions, Buffaloes, and Heathens. Saidi not only played; he led. As captain of Stallions, he learned discipline and how to motivate a team. In 2011, he proudly represented Uganda in the under-19 Junior World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
After high school, Saidi took an unexpected turn. He joined Makerere University’s Jinja campus to study tourism. Although some mocked the move as a step backward from Kampala’s vibrant sports scene, he saw something more—a chance to start fresh and grow rugby in new territory.
It turned out to be a pivotal decision. Jinja’s young athletes were hungry to learn but lacked training. Saidi began teaching basic skills and laying a foundation for the sport. Then in 2013, during a Uganda Cup match between Buffaloes and Nile RFC, tragedy struck. A player collapsed and later died. The incident exposed the dangers of playing without proper skills or preparation.
That moment pushed Saidi to fully commit to coaching.
Soon after, Jonan Manzi asked him to help launch Jinja Hippos. Although coaching wasn’t part of his original plan, he embraced the challenge. He started at the grassroots, running clinics in police barracks and schools. In 2015, he led Jinja SSS to win the Independence Schools Rugby Cup—many of those players went on to play for Hippos.
Nonetheless, progress was tough. Hippos failed to gain Core Status in 2013 and 2014. Despite setbacks, Saidi stayed determined. In 2017, facing Soroti Rangers in a key regional match, Hippos were short of players. Saidi stepped in. With just one touch of the ball, he scored the winning try. That victory helped the team gain promotion to Uganda’s top league.
The 2018 season brought new challenges. Hippos nearly faced relegation, prompting Saidi to bring in coach Robert ‘Soggy’ Seguya. That decision helped turn the team around, finishing seventh. Saidi then took a break to explore work opportunities in Kampala.
Still, his heart remained with rugby. In 2020, a friend invited him to coach Tanzania’s national team. Despite language barriers and a lack of structure, he succeeded in building the country’s first national squad. The experience expanded his vision and deepened his love for the sport.
In 2021, Seguya passed away. Hippos reached out, and Saidi returned just in time for the 2022 Nile Special Sevens. His renewed coaching approach led the team to win both the Kyabazinga leg and the overall tournament.
Creative differences led him to sit out the 2023 season. Searching for new ground, he found Kakira. On his first visit in January 2024, he tossed a rugby ball onto a field. Within minutes, 30 children appeared. That was the spark he needed.
Starting a rugby program from scratch wasn’t easy. It required constant meetings with school administrators, long fundraising hours, and endless coaching. Yet Saidi and his team kept pushing. Support from Africa Scorpions, the Irish Embassy, and partners like Rhinos Direct helped them acquire gear and training tools.
As the Saidi Torin rugby journey progressed, he saw a new gap: equipment costs. Tackle bags alone could cost over Shs2.5 million. With support from Scorpions, Saidi and his team began manufacturing affordable, quality gear locally. Their tackle bags cost only Shs270,000. Hit shields and pole pads followed—produced at a fraction of import prices.
Their products now serve clubs across Uganda and western Kenya. Even Uganda’s national teams use Kakira’s crush mats during training. This blend of innovation and community service is shaping a new rugby economy.
Meanwhile, Kakira’s team kept growing. Though they lost to Makerere Impis in the Core Status playoff, they bounced back and beat Gulu Falcon City and KIU Crowz to earn promotion. Remarkably, Saidi even scored a try during one of the games, proving he’s still got it.
His recent visit to Ireland’s elite rugby academies sharpened his future goals. He envisions a lasting East African rugby model based on grassroots empowerment, smart partnerships, and accessible equipment.
Later this year, an Irish select team will visit Uganda for a clinic and friendly match. They’ll start in Kakira before playing in Kampala. It’s the next step in expanding the impact of the Saidi Torin rugby journey.
When asked if he plans to leave Kakira, he simply says, “This is where I belong. My team and I are building something we believe in—for good.”
Ultimately, the Saidi Torin rugby journey is about more than sport. It’s about legacy, leadership, and lifting communities through courage and consistency.
