Sikhs in Hockey in Uganda

Sikhs have been playing hockey in Uganda since 1921.

The great awakening, however, came in 1948 when the Indian team, which included two Sikhs, visited the country.  This visit generated fresh interest and Clubs like Ramgharia Sports Club, Kampala, Sikh Union Kampala, Sikh Union Jinja and Sikh Union Mbala established hockey teams and new clubhouses and raised the interest in the game.

To celebrate the opening of Lugogo stadium, Uganda organised a tournament in Kampala inviting neighbouring countries of Kenya, Tanganiyka and Zanzibar to a tournament.  This laid the foundation of the annual tournament for the East African Countries and thus became the East African Championships (also known as Rahim Jivraj Cup).

Uganda won the East African Championship in 1966 and finished second in the All African Championship in Lusaka in 1971 which earned them a place at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972.

The Munich squad of eighteen included nine Sikhs, with a Sikh captaining the side.

Sikhs were the backbone of the Uganda national team. The National Team Coach for over a decade was a Sikh and the country boosted a Sikh international umpire.

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