Seguya Robert a.k.a Soggy passed on the evening of Tuesday 14th December 2021 after having been cleared of Leukaemia in November 2021. He was diagnosed with the disease after a short, but almost critical period of illness in May 2021. He took all three rounds of Chemotherapy and was dully cleared. He returned home to recuperate and resume with his life albeit slowly. 2 days to his passing, he felt feverish and called his Doctor who quickly asked him to return to hospital for treatment and management. He was stabilised and in high spirits, but on the fateful Tuesday evening he passed on. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Like most of us, our career paths are formed in High School and that’s where the LEGEND that SOGGY was started. He was admitted to Namilyango College in 1992 for his secondary education. He reported later than most students. Like the rest of the new students, his mother escorted him to his house of residence Doyle House. She went ahead to make the bed for her little boy. The House Captain at the time found her and dully asked that she should come back every morning to make her son’s bed. Mother’s love was tamed then, and the little boy took up being responsible for himself immediately. It later became a joke that he didn’t make his bed or change sheets for that term, waiting for his mother to make his bed. As is the school motto “Education for Responsibility”, Soggy showed his responsibility traits that got him into school leadership at O’ Level as a MERE (Dining hall perfect) a very tough position to hold. He managed it with excellence and respect.
A fist for a handoff, Soggy’s introduction was rather acrimonious. After watching a few rugby games he was mesmerised by the strength and might showed on the pitch. His build being bigger than his average classmates, he would fit well with the older boys and match them physically on the pitch. The older boys indeed encouraged him to join the practice sessions. When he received the ball, he tucked it into his side securely and sprinted forward. The opponents he encountered on the way, received a hard fist not the usual hand off fend. They soon complained to his team captain who showed him what it should be. This was the beginning of an illustrious rugby career. He would go on to lead his classmates in interclass duels and grow through the ranks to the school team.
It is worth shedding some light on his sportsmanship. During sports day competitions, Soggy tenaciously participated in all sports and games at his disposal with excellence, both on track and field. From short put to high jump, short sprints to middle distances, from rugby to football and boxing. Everything he put his hands to, he excelled with ease apart from Table tennis whose flexibility failed him. In boxing, he participated in the National competitions during his S.6 vacation up to the semi-finals where he pulled out due to swollen knuckles. In rugby, he found a sense of purpose, skill, growth, bravado, physical health, teamwork, respect, responsibility, and achievement. He was recruited to Heathens and the National team soon after high school, in 1998.
Seguya, a rugby legend in every right after a standout career through which he played with grit, determination, and Dunkirk spirit that uncloaked his nickname ‘Iron Man’. Playing as an open flanker, it is in rugby that he has indeed etched his name in stone with a flurry of achievements that cement his legendary status.
Robert Seguya’s achievements as a player
- Selected for Africa Leopards twice in 2007 and 2008 being made captain on the first call
- Won the Elgon Cup in 2006
- African Champion in 2002 and 2007
- Won the Uganda Rugby league with Heathens in 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Won the Uganda Cup with Heathens 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001
- Played for Uganda in 7s at the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2010
- Played for Uganda in the IRB Sevens circuit in 2001, 2003, 2004.
Has coached: Heathens, Toyota Buffaloes, and Jinja Hippos By the time of his demise, coach of the Uganda Rugby Cranes XV side
Testimonials
“Robert Seguya commonly known as Soggy in our rugby fraternity has been an icon, a legend, selfless in developing the game, and always willing to share as witnessed by his long stint as a coach at all levels, club, and national teams, not to mention his awesome gladiator skills on pitch that saw Uganda play at the helm in African rugby…….Uganda rugby has been robbed of an asset, albeit, he has fought a good war and left gracefully to be with the angels. On behalf of Uganda Rugby, we celebrate Soggy’s resourceful life, may he continue to rest peacefully,”
Godwin Kayangwe, President of Uganda Rugby Union
“My mentor, my support, my inspiration, my motivation, and most of all my coach and a close friend. Seen me through it all and has been there in all ways. You believed in me when no one did. Gone too soon.”
Phillip Wokorach, Uganda Rugby Cranes player via his Twitter handle
“As somebody that was very close to him, I was very proud of the way he lived his life. I implore people to keep those memories of Robert and use them to make their lives better. I miss him and may his soul Rest in Peace.”
Ian Walker, ENGSOL Chief Executive, and Soggy’s father figure.
Links
https://observer.ug/sports/72190-rugby-fraternity-mourns-former-uganda-captain-coach-seguya
http://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20211215/126779/former-uganda-rugby-team-coach-seguya-dead.html
https://www.civsourceafrica.com/uganda-rugby-comes-together-for-robert-soggy-seguya
https://kawowo.com/2021/12/15/ugandan-rugby-legend-robert-soggy-seguya-passes-on/
https://chimpreports.com/legendary-rugby-cranes-captain-coach-robert-seguya-passes-on/
http://nilepost.co.ug/2021/12/15/rugby-legend-robert-seguya-dead/
https://www.newvision.co.ug/articledetails/122372
Compiled by Nakedde Anthony and Ronald Ssonko.