Nile Special, has reaffirmed its status as the number one fan of Uganda Rugby with a staggering UGX9.8 Billion commitment to Uganda Rugby Union for a period of three-four years. The sponsorship was revealed by the Nile Breweries Ltd Managing Director David Valencia during a dinner held in honour of the Rugby Cranes 7s men and women’s teams. The investment covers a chunk of the rugby union’s calendar, including; The ongoing Rugby Premier League, the just concluded Rugby Africa 7s, the Championship, Rugby Cranes 15s, Women 7s, National team 7s, Regional 7s, Uganda Cup both men and women, University League and the annual dinner.
Depending on the level of the partnership, Nile Special will take on either the title sponsor or the beverage sponsor role for the various properties it has committed to support for the respective number of years. “Our partnership with Uganda Rugby has been a journey, not a destination. The difference is that a person that sets out to enjoy the journey will take pleasure in everything along the way, unlike one that simply cannot wait to get to the destination. But like all journeys, this too has had its fair share of bumps. Yet they fade in comparison to the highs we have experienced over the years most recently the Rugby Cranes 7s triumph ensuring World Cup qualification in September this year, in South Africa.
What better partner for Rugby than Nile Special, the most awarded internationally, and I would dare to say that it is the most awarded in the East African region. It is truly Ugandan pride from the source, brewed with 99% local material, recognized globally by the “International Quality Institute” in Belgium,” said Mr. Valencia.
“The game has been on the forefront of making Uganda proud. Uganda has ably been represented at numerous 7s circuits across the world. The feat that has just been attained this year by the men’s 7s side; that’s winning the Africa 7s and qualifying for the World, has been achieved before. We have won the Africa rugby trophy and even played at the 2018 7s World Cup in USA. As the No.1 fan of Uganda Rugby, this is what we are exactly about; supporting anybody that makes Uganda proud,” added Mr. Valencia.
NBL rewarded the teams with UGX58M (Mens team) and UGX10M (Women’s team) given their recent international exploits. “We appreciate the weight of expectation that comes with the tag of the No.1 Fan of Uganda Rugby, and it’s the kind of responsibility we are happy to shoulder with all of you; the gov’t, the Uganda Rugby Union, fellow sponsors, the fans of Ugandan rugby, and media,” he concluded. The URU president expressed utmost gratitude towards the commitment revealing that it will enable the Union to strategically plan for the future well knowing that there’s firm back up from Nile Special.
“This is a historic day in Uganda sports in general and rugby in particular. We have never had a partner that supported any sport in such a huge way in Uganda. Usually sponsors come in for a property or two but for Nile Special to take on almost our entire calendar is something worth toasting to,” ecstatically said Mr. Kayangwe before quickly acknowledging the mammoth task ahead.
“As much as the Africa 7s triumph is still fresh in our minds, the work towards a successful World Cup starts immediately. We are not going there merely as participants. We want to cause a major stir, check up the status quo and make a name for Uganda. With such a commitment we have been accorded the privilege of a longer term focus on what ought to be done and when; unlike a day-to-day affair or a tournament-to-tournament affair that fixes the attention to the here and now. The ball is in our hands,” he said.
