After suffering relegation from the premiership in 2024, Impis are out to reclaim their spot in Uganda’s top-flight rugby as the 2025 Nile Special Rugby Premiership promotional playoffs kick off this Saturday, May 24.
The Central Region champions headline a competitive field of four regional winners who will lock horns in a three-week, round-robin tournament aimed at determining which two teams secure promotion to the 2026 Premiership season.
The Uganda Rugby Union confirmed that the playoffs will be hosted across four venues—Bushenyi, Kakira, Gulu, and Makerere—from May 24 to June 7, 2025.
Joining Impis in the race for promotion are:
Gulu City Falcons, the Northern Region champions, fresh from a dominant 31-03 victory over Lira Bulls.
KIU CROWZ, Western Region representatives, who advanced after a 27-00 shutout of Fort Portal Tyrants.
Kakira Simbas, Eastern Region champions, who sealed their place with a win over Njeru in the final.
Impis will begin their campaign on Saturday, May 24 in Bushenyi against KIU CROWZ. They’ll then face Kakira Simbas in Makerere on May 31—a home tie that could be crucial for their campaign. Their final test will be against Gulu City Falcons in Gulu on June 7.
Having endured the disappointment of relegation just last year, Impis have rebuilt and regrouped. The team enters the playoffs with a renewed sense of purpose, strong regional form, and a clear objective: to return to the Premiership and prove they belong among Uganda’s elite.
The top two teams from the playoffs will replace the lowest-ranked clubs from the previous Premiership season. For Impis, it’s not just about promotion—it’s about redemption.
Full playoff fixtures:
Week 1 – Saturday, May 24
Bushenyi: KIU CROWZ vs Impis – 4:00 PM
Kakira: Kakira Simbas vs Gulu City Falcons – 4:00 PM
Week 2 – Saturday, May 31
Gulu: Gulu City Falcons vs KIU CROWZ – 4:00 PM
Makerere: Impis vs Kakira Simbas – 4:00 PM
Week 3 – Saturday, June 7
Gulu: Gulu City Falcons vs Impis – 4:00 PM
Bushenyi: KIU CROWZ vs Kakira Simbas – 4:00 PM.
