RWANDA’s response to defeat could hardly have been clearer.
After falling six runs short, they returned to the same ground, faced the same opponents and delivered the performance their coaching staff had demanded. The result was an 18-run victory over Uganda in the Victoria Series 2026, built on smarter batting, disciplined bowling and a far sharper command of the game’s key moments.
Rwanda posted 92 for 5 from their 18 overs before restricting Uganda to 74 for 6.
For head coach Leonard Nhamburo, the difference was straightforward.
“This was a complete team response after losing by six runs on the second day. To beat Uganda, at home, by 18 runs, that is a statement win. We learned, we fixed the mistakes, and we executed.”Game Two we lost the small moments. Today we won them,” he said.
The score of 92 may appear modest, but on a surface where fluent batting remained difficult all morning, Rwanda viewed it as a winning total.
Gisele Ishimwe’s 32 from 46 balls gave the innings shape, while Clarrise Umutoniwase added 14 and Henriette Therese Ishimwe carried her bat for an unbeaten 16. No batter dominated proceedings. Instead, Rwanda stitched together enough contributions to stay ahead of the conditions and, crucially, avoided the collapse that had undermined them a day earlier.
Nhamburo pointed to the powerplay as one of the biggest improvements.
“We fixed the powerplay. Today we were patient, we rotated, and we kept wickets in hand,” the head coach said.
That early discipline gave Rwanda room to build later in the innings.
“No one got a big 40, but we had three or four contributions between 15 and 20. That is how you build 92 in tough conditions. Everyone chipped in, no collapse,” he added.
Uganda’s bowlers ensured the game remained within reach, with captain Janet Mbabazi returning figures of 3 for 20.
The chase, however, never settled.
Uganda did not suffer one decisive collapse. Instead, Rwanda chipped away at the innings. Every time a partnership threatened to develop, a wicket followed. The required rate remained manageable, but the margin for error kept shrinking.
Nhamburo described it as one of Rwanda’s best bowling displays of the tournament.
“This was championship-level bowling.”To defend 92, you need discipline, and we were perfect. We bowled to our fields, we didn’t give width, and we made Uganda take risks,” he said.
At the centre of that effort was Ruth Uwimana.
The Player of the Match produced the decisive spell, claiming 4 for 10 from four overs and removing Proscovia Alako, Rita Musamali, Esther Iloku and Immaculate Nakisuuyi. Those wickets cut through the heart of Uganda’s batting order and transformed a manageable chase into a struggle for survival.
“Outstanding. Four wickets for 10 runs in four overs is world-class in T20 cricket.”Ruth was the difference today. She bowled with control, variation and courage. She didn’t just take wickets, she took the right wickets at the right time. She broke Uganda’s top order and then came back to break their middle order when they tried to rebuild,” Nhamburo said.
The Rwanda coach also reserved praise for the fielding effort that supported the bowlers.
“I also want to credit the fielders. We backed her up with no dropped catches,” he said.
Despite the convincing victory, Nhamburo believes Rwanda can still lift their batting output.
“What we proved today is that we can beat Uganda in Uganda. We can defend a low total. Our bowling unit is one of the best in this tournament. We still want one or two batters to go on to 30-plus and make 92 become 110. If we do that, we become very difficult to beat in the final,” the head coach said.b
For now, Rwanda leave Entebbe with renewed confidence and momentum.
“This win gives us massive belief as a team. We are not just here to compete. We are here to win the Victoria Series,” he said.
