Allan Otim will take over as the interim coach for the Uganda Sevens team after long-serving Tolbert Onyango stepped down from the position he has held for close to 12  years. Otim will be assisted by Michael Wandera, a former player and current team manager.

Their first assignment will be preparing the team for the annual Safari Sevens to be played at the Nyayo National Stadium from October 10 to 12, 2025. 

Onyango, a former Mean Machine and Kenya scrum-half has guided Uganda Sevens team to two Rugby World Cup qualifiers in 2018 and 2022, four Africa Sevens championships, inaugural All Africa Games (2024) in Accra, Ghana, two Commonwealth Games, World Rugby Sevens World Series as well as Safari Sevens.

New Look Squad

When www.thesportsnewsarena.com had an exclusive interview with Onyango during the last Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius, the coach had a new look squad. This was because some of the key players had been included in the 15’s team that had a crack at qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World in Australia.

All along, the coach had a tentative plan of identifying more talent for a wider squad. He always insisted on having a strong leadership to provide sound mentorship for the new players called up to the team. His departure signals the dawn of a new era as Uganda Sevens rebuilds to have another crack at the World Rugby Challenger Series in the new competition format.

Uganda Rugby Sevens team will be without long-serving coach, Tolbert Onyango when they travel to Nairobi, Kenya for this year’s Safari Sevens from October 10-12, 2025. (Photo Courtesy World Rugby)