National rugby league champions Remera Buffaloes have suffered a huge blow after realizing that they will be without seven of their top players for this weekend’s Hima-Mak 10s international tournament at Kyadondo ground, Kampala, Uganda.

Gerard Nsenga, a member of the club yesterday said that next week’s Advanced National Exams are the reason why the players are not traveling.

"They are not traveling because they are preparing for their exams and this is a huge blow to the team because they are quality players with lots of experience,” Nsenga realized.

"Their absence also means that the squad has been trimmed down immensely,” he added.

Buffaloes’ influential forward Vincent Kamali is one of the seven set to miss the two-day show piece.

Kamali was very instrumental in getting Buffaloes to the semi-finals of last month’s Prinsloo Nakuru 7s in Kenya and the club knows that finding a perfect replacement is next to impossible.

"He is an integral part of the team and his services will be greatly missed in Uganda,” Nsenga added.

Other notable absentees include Shema Sebije and Jean Batiste Mukiza.

Buffaloes are seeded in the toughest pool (A) which pits them with defending champions Mwamba (Kenya), Ugandan giants (Kobs) and minnows Nile.

Only the top two have the luxury of progressing to the quarter-finals.

Shs3.5m is at stake for the overall winner.

Ends