Soggy faces unusual foe in leukaemia

If you needed synonyms for any of the following words; combative, aggressive, strong, competitive, passionate, character and other superlatives, they should read Robert Seguya.

Soggy, as he is fondly known, has beaten every opponent and won everything there is in Ugandan rugby. Now he faces his biggest opponent – leukaemia.
Arguably Uganda’s greatest rugby player, the rugby coach was diagnosed with the blood cancer over the weekend.

Leukaemia occurs when the body creates too many abnormal white blood cells that interfere with the bone marrow’s ability to make red blood cells and platelets.

The Jinja Hippos coach first felt uneasy a fortnight ago following his team’s Nile Special Stout Premiership game against Sadolin Mongers. Hippos won it 25-11.

The former Rugby Cranes open side flanker was treated in Jinja, transferred to Mukono then Kampala’s Pulse Clinic. Yesterday, Soggy was moved to Uganda Cancer Institute, Mulago, to start chemotherapy.

Friends, fans start cause

A call to fundraise for his treatment caught like a wildfire in Uganda and Kenya, a team he played against the most in the Elgon Cup and African tournaments.

“Kenya and Uganda share a healthy rivalry and strong bond on and off the rugby pitch. A loyal servant of Ugandan rugby,

Robert “Soggy” Seguya has been diagnosed with acute leukaemia and needs our support,” Kenya Rugby tweeted.
“We call upon the general public to join us in extending financial assistance to the national team XV coach,” Uganda Rugby Cranes wrote.

Through Betway Kobs and Rugby Cranes winger Daudi Ssemwami, the rugby fraternity and the general public can contribute via 0775627996, 0702846736 and Safaricom +254743899980.

The only time Soggy has had a health problem publicly was when he collapsed as his Protectors’ franchise lost 19-17 to Crocs in the defunct Protector Rugby Super Series final back in 2014. 

Many felt it was the disappointment of the result as he is extremely hungry for success in everything he does.
To his mates from Namilyango College, Soggy is everything – regarded as the best rugby player but he also played football, did boxing and was a sprinter.

Seguya’s highlights

• Selected for Africa Leopards twice in 2007 and 2008 being made captain on the first call
• Won the Uganda Cup with Heathens 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001
• Played for Uganda in 7s at the Commonwealth Games in 2006, 2010
• Played for Uganda in the IRB Sevens circuit in 2001, 2003, 2004
• Has coached Heathens, Toyota Buffaloes and Jinja Hippos
• Current coach of the Uganda Rugby Cranes XV side

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