How teacher Charles Mbusa is changing lives through sports

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On October 5th, 2025, as the world marked World Teachers’ Day under the theme “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession,” Uganda joined the global celebration of educators who go beyond the classroom to shape lives.

In Kasese District, one such teacher, Coach Charles Mbusa, embodies the spirit of collaboration and transformation that the theme called for. Through sports, mentorship, and unwavering dedication, Mbusa has turned fields and humble playgrounds into spaces of hope, teamwork, and opportunity.

For nearly three decades, Mbusa has shown that teaching is more than delivering lessons; it’s about building futures together. His colleagues and community members speak of him not only as a teacher but as a change maker whose influence ripples far beyond school walls.

Jerome Kahyana, the District Sports Officer for Kasese, describes Mbusa as a trainer, a coach, and a mentor” who often spends his own money to ensure learners reach competitions. “He has changed lives through sports, especially in athletics,” he says, reflecting the deep respect Mbusa commands across the district.

At Kagando School of Nursing and Midwifery, where Mbusa has coached handball and athletics for years, Kiiza Ronald, a volleyball player, sports tutor, and Academic Registrar, says his impact is undeniable. Under his guidance, teams have claimed multiple regional trophies, but what stands out most, he says, is his ethics and commitment. “He is dependable and highly committed. You always see his passion in the way he mentors learners,” he explains.

That passion is echoed by fellow educator John Mufanzala Bwambale of St. Theresa Girls Secondary School–Nsenyi, who has known Mbusa since their own school days. “He has always loved sports,” he recalls. “Many institutions hire him to train their learners because he’s excellent at what he does. He’s one of the few physical education (PE) trainers in the competence-based curriculum who can guide others. People listen to him because he has truly mastered his craft.”

In a world where teaching is increasingly recognized as a collaborative journey, Mbusa’s story stands as a testament to what teamwork, mentorship, and dedication can achieve. His learners, colleagues, and the communities he serves all reflect one truth: great teachers do not work alone, they lift others as they rise.

From the pitch to a purpose

Moses Baluku still remembers the first time someone believed in him. “I was his pupil,” he says. “I am a football coach and referee today because of Mbusa.”

Baluku, who now holds a FUFA referee badge and serves as the second assistant coach for Rwenzori Lions, is one of many whose life was shaped by Charles Mbusa, a physical education teacher with a gift for seeing beyond the classroom.

Mbusa was Baluku’s physical education and games teacher at Bwera Demonstration School, but to him, he was more than that. “He was a parent to me. He gave me guidance in school and in life,” Baluku recalls. “He is a good teacher, the kind who makes sure you understand. If you leave his class confused, it is probably your fault.”

Today, Baluku officiates high-stakes matches in Kasese district, across the Kitara region, and in national tournaments under FUFA, such as the FUFA Big League. He coaches school teams and helps shape the next generation of sports talent. And Mbusa is still there for him.

“I am meant to be Coach for Rwenzori Lions, but because I only have the FUFA beginners certificate qualification, I had to relinquish the position to a coach who has the CAF D coaching qualification. Now, I have heard about the CAF D coaching course it was Mbusa who told me,” he says. “He encouraged me to enroll even though it’s costly. He has even offered to support me once I get in.”

Baluku’s is just one of many stories of learners Mbusa has transformed through sports.

A Teacher with a Mission

For 27 years, Charles Mbusa has been using sports to transform lives. After spending 24 of those years in primary schools, he now teaches at Kuruhe High School in Kasese District, where he’s a mathematics and physical education teacher.

But to many, he is more than just a teacher, he is a mentor, a coach, and a life-changer. “I have former students earning a living because of the skills I taught them,” Mbusa says. “Some are referees, others are coaches. That’s success to me.”

Besides Baluku, another of his former learners, Samuel Kule, took the lessons from Mbusa’s sports science classes and turned them into a stable career. Mbusa’s coaching record is impressive. At Kagando School of Nursing and Midwifery and Kagando School of Allied Health Sciences, his handball teams have competed at national level, often making it to the finals. Last year in Hoima, his teams came second overall among 17 nursing institutions across the country.

He has coached Bwera Secondary School, Kagando School of Nursing, and Kagando School of Allied Health Sciences to consistent district and regional success. At his current school, he is already guiding young talent to national exposure.

“Kuruhe’s girls’ handball team played at the national games in Soroti last year for the first time,” he says. “They did really well. I focus more on girls because I want them to realise their potential and stay in school.”

When Talent Opens Doors

Mbusa is a firm believer that sports can be a way out for learners who may not have the means to complete school traditionally.

“If a student leaves school in senior two but has skills in athletics or football, they can still make a living,” he says.

Through his networks, he has helped link students to schools that offer bursaries based on talent. Among the recent success stories are Joachim Kule, now in Senior Three at Trinity College Kabale on a full bursary thanks to athletics; Rita Biira, who received a half bursary at Kagando School of Nursing after excelling in handball; as well as Jovia Asiimwe and Daniel Thembo, both of whom earned scholarships through sports. “Sports isn’t just a game,” Mbusa says. “It is a tool. A bridge. A lifeline.”

Building Peace, Fostering Leadership

Mbusa also uses sports as a way to promote harmony among learners and rally communities around education.

“At school, we use weekend games and inter-house competitions to create peace and build relationships among students,” he says. “When there’s unity, there are no strikes. More students are now enrolling for PE because they see how it helps them grow.”

Beyond school, he organises local competitions around Easter and Christmas to mobilise communities and raise awareness about the value of education. “When a child is talented, and their parents can’t afford fees, we link them to schools that offer sports scholarships,” he adds. “That’s how we keep them in school.”

Going the Extra Mile

Although schools provide basic sports equipment, Mbusa often reaches into his own pocket to take promising students to out-of-school competitions. “I make that extra effort because I have seen what it can do,” he says. “A boy who didn’t know he could play volleyball now dreams of being a professional. Sports helped him discover himself.”

With PE now fully integrated into Uganda’s lower secondary curriculum and examinable, Mbusa is optimistic that more learners will benefit. “Sports sharpens the mind. It builds discipline, leadership, and focus,” he says. “Gone are the days when people thought sports students were weak in class. We now know better sports builds academic success too.”

The Road That Shaped Him

Mbusa’s path to becoming a teacher and sports mentor was built on passion, grit, and the desire to change lives not just in the classroom but on the pitch. “I grew up loving football,” he says. “From childhood, I would run off to the playground after school just to watch people play. That curiosity grew into a passion.”

He didn’t always dream of teaching, but when he joined Grade III teacher training at Bwera Primary Teachers' College, something clicked. Many schools focused only on academics, ignoring sports and other co-curricular activities, a gap he knew he could fill.

“I have always believed a learner should be developed all-round,” he explains. “When I trained as a teacher, I realised I could channel my love for sports into something meaningful. It gave me the tools to nurture learners both in the classroom and on the field.”

That passion became his compass. Even as he taught academic subjects, he never let go of the playground. On weekends, he would train learners, helping them sharpen skills they didn’t know they had. “Not all learners are gifted academically,” he says. “But many are talented athletes. And I have seen time and again that sports can earn them as much, if not more, than academics ever could.”

What Makes a Great Teacher?

For Mbusa, teaching is not just about credentials, it’s about character. “Dedication is number one,” he says. “You must be committed to your work.”

He stresses honesty and integrity, reminding teachers to live by example and respect professional boundaries. Kindness, he adds, is essential: “If a learner has no pencil, I’ll give them 200 shillings to buy one. It’s about supporting them, not shaming them.”

And when resources are scarce, innovation fills the gap. “If we don’t have a ball, we make one from fibres,” he says. “If we don’t have a pitch, we use the school compound. What matters is that learning continues.”

Planting the Seeds of Talent

At Kuruhe High School, Mbusa has helped build four active sports clubs: football, athletics, volleyball, and handball. Only football existed before he arrived. “Out of over 600 students, we can’t just focus on one sport,” he says. “I introduced the others so every learner can find where they fit.”

Starting new clubs hasn’t been easy. Many students have never played before, so he trains them from scratch. “It takes patience,” he says. “But I have seen raw beginners turn into champions. You just have to believe in them.”

Funding is another hurdle. School budgets are tight, and many students can’t afford equipment. But Mbusa presses on. “If we wait for everything to be perfect, we will never move. The goal is to give them a chance,” he says.

Limited space, time, and manpower are challenges too, but he persists. “In most schools, there’s only one or two people passionate enough to drive all this,” he says. “And yet sports development needs teamwork. Still, I keep going because I know what is possible.”

A Calling, Not Just a Career

For Mbusa, teaching is more than a profession, it’s a calling. “We must help children realise their potential,” he says. “When they succeed, that is our real reward.”

In Baluku, who is now helping lead a football team and officiating national games, the reward is already clear. “I am proud of who I have become,” Baluku says. “And I will never forget where it started. It started with Mbusa.”

The Bigger Picture

For Mbusa, every training session is more than just practice its preparation for life. “I want learners to have both academics and talent,” he says. “If one door closes, the other can open. Sports builds discipline, leadership, and confidence. These are tools for life.”