The JKUAT Cougars have been crowned the 2025 Impala Floodlit Varsity champions after a 31–23 victory over USIU Martials in the final played at the Impala Club on Saturday morning.
The triumph caps off an incredible season for the Cougars, who recently celebrated their first-ever Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) success and impressed in the KRU Championship, where they reached the quarterfinals.
JKUAT Cougars opener
The Cougars took an early lead through a penalty from Smith Muhoya, a former KCB Rugby flyhalf who now doubles as their coach, putting them ahead 3–0.
USIU quickly responded with a penalty to level the scores. The Martials then capitalized on sustained pressure to score a try after a patient forward build-up, taking an 8–3 lead after a missed conversion.
JKUAT responded in style. A clever change of direction caught the USIU defense off guard, and Karl Omito sliced through before cutting inside to score under the posts. Muhoya converted to restore the lead at 10–8.
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In the second half, USIU regained the lead through a penalty from their scrum-half. However, JKUAT’s Mwangi Bonnke restored the Cougars’ advantage, diving over the line after a quick pass from a ruck that left the USIU defense struggling to realign.
Muhoya missed the conversion, but he made amends shortly after by slotting in a penalty to make it 18–11.
USIU hit back with a well-worked try, exploiting an overlap on the left to close the gap to 18–16, though their kicker failed to convert and tie the game.
The Cougars pulled away again when their lock used his height and strength to power over the line despite pressure from two defenders. The conversion extended their lead to 25–16.
In the closing minutes, Muhoya added another penalty to make it 28–16, but USIU refused to give up, scoring a converted try from a quick tap penalty to reduce the deficit to 28–23.
Muhoya then sealed the win with his final penalty, confirming a 31–23 victory for the JKUAT Cougars.
