Eagles hooker Jude Jjuuko was named the best of December 2023 in the rugby category during the Fortebet Real Stars Sports Monthly Awards session that happened on Tuesday, 9th January 2024 at Lazio Bar and Restaurant in Kololo, Kampala.
To win the award, Jjuuko beat competition from Kobs’ Alhaji Manano and Impis’ Pius Mpoza who were the other nominees.
Jjuuko is being recognized for guiding his newly league promoted club Eagles to their first Rugby Uganda Cup quarterfinal. Jjuuko played all the three games in December winning three and losing one. The Kitante based club topped group B with 15 points leaving Pirates to settle for the second with 14 points. However, Eagles lost 09-22 to Mongers during last weekend’s quarterfinals.
Jjuuko who won the award for the first time ever says that it feels great to finally have the plaque and cash prize at his grasp and it could be the beginning of great things.
“It feels great to be recognized for the hard work you do. It encourages you to work harder and do more for yourself and the team,” Jjuuko said adding that he hopes the award inspires his teammates as well.
Eagles will make their debut in the fast approaching Rugby Premier League season. Jjuuko who plied his trade with top tier side Kobs in the previous season believes that his side will do well in the division if they work on the basics.
“We are going to shock teams definitely. The teams have already seen what we are capable of doing for example we beat Pirates at Kings Park,” Jjuuko said adding that with the premiership being a new ground for Eagles, the side can still do well if a few key elements of the game are sorted out before the season kicks off.
Meanwhile, in the football category, Maroon FC’s Abraham Tusubira emerged winner beating competition from SC Villa’s Ivan Bogere and KCCA FC’s Shaban Muhammad. He had five assists and two goals in five games for Maroons. In those games, his side won three games drew two.
In the cricket category, Rita Musamali emerged winner beating competition from fellow national teammate (Victoria Pearls) and Cricket Cranes’ Henry Ssenyondo. The all-rounder raised her game where it mattered most with a woman of the match performance in Entebbe to take Uganda to their second global T20 World Cup qualifier after beating Tanzania by 10 runs. Throughout the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier, Musamali collected 107 runs from 130 balls for Uganda standing third in the tournament. Musamali put up a spirited bowling performance of six wickets, conceding 66 runs from 101-balls standing 7th on chart.
In the boxing category, John Sserunjogi emerged winner, he was nomint alongside Isaac Masembe and Jjunju Power. Sserunjogi became the first Ugandan professional boxer to win the WBA Africa away from home in the last ten years.
The middleweight pugilist overcame the wrath of Guinea’s Ibo Maier in the West African Country.
The Tuesday awards session was graced by Real Stars Sports Agency CEO, Isaac Mukasa, Fortebet’s Resty Mbatidde and and Henry Zzimbe from Jude Color Solutions who are partners.
