UR Karate team finish 3rd at Regional University Games

University of Rwanda (UR) Karate team emerged third to win bronze in the ongoing 9th Eastern Africa Inter- University Games in Uganda.

Jean d’Amour Rukundo was the star performer after winning gold in the under 84 kg Kumite [fighting] category, Narcisse Tuyishime got silver in the under 60 category, and Jules Rutayisire took bronze in the under 75 kg category. Kampala International University (KIU) and Ndejje University, two private Ugandan Universities whose teams are dominated by Rwandan players with full scholarships there, emerged first and second, respectively. Among those, KIU’s Rehema Kabera (a member of the Rwandan national team) won silver in individual female Kata, and gold in the under 55 Kumite category.

Another KIU student on Rwanda’s national team, Emery Espoir Ntungane, won gold in the under 67 category while Jean Paul Shyirambere, also of KIU, won gold in individual male under 60 kg category.Nearly 3,000 athletes from 40 universities in 12 countries are participating in this year’s edition which is being hosted by Uganda Christian University (UCU), in Mukono, from December 17 to 21.

UR is also competing in football, basketball, handball, volleyball and athletics.