In an initiative to bolster grassroots football development, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) and the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), in partnership with the Kampala Regional Football Association, expanded the FIFA Football for Schools program to 79 schools across Kampala on Tuesday.
This initiative aims to integrate football into school curriculums, promoting not just physical activity but essential life skills among students aged 4 to 14.
The expansion follows the national launch of the program in June 2024 at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, attended by high-profile FIFA representatives.
Under the initiative, games teachers from 79 government-aided primary schools across Kampala’s five divisions participated in a one-day training seminar.
The program combines foundational football techniques with valuable life skills, equipping educators to effectively teach and inspire young children. Additionally, each participating school received 15 footballs to support ongoing practice and engagement.
Jimmy Amatre, Deputy Director of Social Services at KCCA, and Willis Muwanguzi, a Kampala Regional Executive Committee member, represented the program’s key stakeholders at the event.
Reflecting on the program’s impact, Muwanguzi praised Uganda’s commitment to making football accessible for youth and highlighted the importance of integrating education with sports for the nation’s progress. “With one of the youngest populations in the world, Uganda can use the power of football to teach values and invest in the nation’s future,” he remarked. He added that such initiatives could cultivate the next generation of Ugandan football legends, much like the Cranes teams that participated in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Incorporating both theoretical and practical sessions, the training also addressed safeguarding practices to ensure safe environments for children in sports.
FUFA’s trainers, including Joan Namusisi, Phiona Nansubuga, and Peter Emojong, led the sessions, joined by regional trainers recently certified at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
The program is set to continue its rollout across Uganda, with the next event scheduled for the West Nile region, where 250 primary schools in Koboko and Arua will be targeted for participation. This expansion reinforces FUFA’s vision of promoting football as a tool for social and developmental progress across the nation.
