Pirates was a team born out of pride. We were young, we were “foolishly” brave, ambitious and naïve. We had no clue what we were doing and what lay ahead of us. And I think with that fear of what lay ahead of us out, we “foolishly” matched on into the unknown. The driving factor was love for the game.

We had just finished University with a largely successful Impis team. The team had talent but was not well supported by the University, so success came with limited resources. This was an experience we would use later to keep Pirates afloat against all odds. We wanted to continue playing rugby, but as usual, over the years playing for Impis, we had created so much bad blood with other teams that we did not see ourselves playing for them. We could have easily walked into any of those teams (Heathens/Kobs/Rhinos). If that had happened. There would be no Pirates today.

We wanted to continue playing rugby, but as usual, over the years playing for Impis, we had created so much bad blood with other teams that we did not see ourselves playing for them. We could have easily walked into any of those teams (Heathens/Kobs/Rhinos). If that had happened. There would be no Pirates today.

Sometime in 1996, we met at the Guild Canteen, Makerere University and a decision was made to form our own club. We haggled over the name of the team and we decided on Black Pirates.

Our first biggest achievement was in Jinja (10s) tournament. I don’t recall the year but must have been in the late 1990s. I was captain of the Bowl final gains Kobs second team. We fought for that Bowl like the future of Pirates depended on it. My kicking was off that day. The late Rujumba saved the day with a try in the last few seconds and we won the bowl. Pirates erupted, and we have never looked back. We desperately wanted something in our cabinet. There was zero, despite years of resilience and ups and downs. Not that we had been in the game for long.

Note that we were founded in 1996, so the late 1990s to achieve anything was quite ambitious. We were a new club by all definitions, and it was quite early to dream of big successes against
well-established clubs.