Nile Special has once again reaffirmed its status as the number one fan of Uganda Rugby with a staggering Shs9.8 Billion commitment to the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) for a period of three-four years.
The sponsorship was revealed by the Nile Breweries Managing Director David Valencia on Thursday at the Rugby Cranes 7s teams’ appreciation dinner at Kabira County club during which both the men’s and women’s teams were rewarded with Shs58M and Shs10M respectively given their recent international exploits.
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 supporting for the respective number of years.
Speaking at the event Mr Valencia said their 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 per cent 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 the 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.
“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 Godwin Kayangwe expressed utmost gratitude towards the commitment revealing that it will enable the Union to strategically plan for the future well knowing that there’s a firm backup 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 on 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.
Here is the breakdown of the sponsorship commitment
Rugby Premier League and Championship with taking Shs2.6bn running for three years, Rugby Africa7s will take Shs430m running for two years, Rugby Cranes 15s Shs1.77bn three years. National 7s League 2.15bn running Women 7s Shs465m, National 7s team 1.34bn, Local Regional 7s Shs280m, Uganda cup men Shs250, Uganda cup women Shs105m, University League Shs165m and Annual Dinner Shs300m all running for 4years.
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