By 
For six months, Ivan Magomu watched from the sidelines, his boots gathering dust as Ugandan rugby moved on without him.
Once the proud captain of the Rugby Cranes, Magomu found himself exiled from the game he loved. The Uganda Rugby Union (URU) Disciplinary Committee had handed him a suspension, barring him from all rugby-related activities for 24 weeks.
The charges? “Abuse of match officials” and “bringing the sport into disrepute,” stemming from an alleged altercation with referees during the 2024 Nile Special Rugby Championship Playoffs Final and a controversial social media post in July.
The punishment was swift and unforgiving. On August 16, 2024, Magomu not only lost his right to play but also his captaincy. His appeal, reviewed by a three-member panel led by URU President Godwin Kayangwe, was denied. The ruling was final. Magomu would have to wait.
Yet, those who expected him to fade into obscurity underestimated his resilience. Instead of dwelling on his misfortune, Magomu found solace in an unlikely ally: soccer.
“I am a soccer player—that’s what most people forget,” Magomu revealed. “So I’ve been playing a lot of soccer. I didn’t realize how much fitness it required. You’re constantly running, chasing the ball, kicking—it kept me busy.”
The sport that had once been a childhood pastime became his saving grace. Soccer’s relentless pace sharpened his agility, endurance, and footwork—qualities essential for his rugby comeback.
But he didn’t stop there. Determined to stay in peak condition, Magomu embraced a rigorous workout routine. The gym became his sanctuary, a battleground where he silently prepared for his return.
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“I had to keep working out, focusing on personal training, because I knew the time would come when I’d be back on the field,” he said. “I kept my head down, worked in silence, and now the results are starting to show.”
When the suspension finally ended, Magomu wasted no time. On March 22, 2025, he stepped onto the pitch at Legends Rugby Ground in a Black Pirates jersey, facing off against rival KOBs.
Substituted on in the 63rd minute, he made an immediate impact. His presence reignited the Pirates’ intensity, and by the 72nd minute, he slotted home a penalty—his first points after six months in exile.
The Pirates may not have secured victory that day, but Magomu had sent a clear message: he was back.
With club rugby now behind him, the next chapter of his comeback remains unwritten. Uganda will host the Africa Cup later this year, and the question lingers—will the Rugby Cranes selectors give him another shot?
For Magomu, the focus remains on what he can control.
“I just have to put my head down and work,” he said. “Serving my country comes first. Right now, you’ve only seen 30% of what a fit Magomu can do.”
His rugby journey has been anything but smooth. From nearly quitting in 2015 to considering switching allegiances to Kenya, he has faced adversity before. Yet, each time, he has found a way back.
Now, with his suspension behind him, Magomu is ready for his next battle—this time, for a place in the national squad.
“I just have to keep ticking the boxes,” he said. “Hopefully, the coaches will notice my game, and I’ll be called back to do what I do best.”
And if history is any indication, Ivan Magomu is far from done.
