Kasese girls prove football Is not only for boys

Girls in Kasese District can achieve just as much as boys in football if they are given equal opportunities from an early age, the founder of the New Life Foundation for Community Rural Development (NeFCoRD), Titus Mukwano, has said.

Mukwano noted that many talented girls miss the chance to reach their full potential because they start playing football much later than boys and have limited access to coaching, competitions, and training facilities.

"Girls have the same potential as boys. If they receive the same opportunities, coaching and support from a young age, they can succeed in football, stay in school, and become future leaders in their communities," Mukwano said.

Founded in 2016 and officially registered as a Community-Based Organisation in December 2017, NeFCoRD uses sport, education, and child protection programmes to improve the lives of vulnerable children in Kasese District.

The foundation initially focused on child protection and education before introducing football as a tool for development after realising it attracted many young people and created opportunities to teach life skills, leadership, discipline, and teamwork.

Through a partnership with Kamaiba Soccer Academy and Kasese SDA Primary School, the organisation is now promoting structured girls' football while encouraging children to remain in school.

Mukwano said one of the biggest challenges is that girls are introduced to football much later than boys.

"In many schools, boys start playing football from Primary One, but girls only begin in secondary school when they are around 15 years old. By then, they are expected to compete against players who have trained for many years. They need the same starting point if we want equal competition," he said.

The programme currently supports more than 120 girls through regular football training, mentorship, and life-skills education. Since 2022, the foundation has helped 35 girls remain in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions through sports bursaries and education support.

The project has also produced positive results beyond the classroom. Two girls have earned places at She Kasese Sports Club in the Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Elite League, while three former beneficiaries now work as coaches at Kamaiba Soccer Academy after completing coaching courses. Another five are coaching at different clubs.

"We have proved that football is not only for boys. Parents are beginning to appreciate that girls can also succeed in sport while improving their education and building confidence," he said.

Despite the progress, Mukwano said girls still face many barriers, including negative cultural beliefs, limited funding, inadequate sports equipment, poor playing facilities, and a shortage of female coaches and mentors. He called upon the Kasese District Local Government, Kasese Municipality, the Kasese District Football Association, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations, schools, development partners, corporate organisations, and well-wishers to invest more in girls' football.

Beyond football, Mukwano said the organisation wants to produce confident, educated, and responsible young women who can positively transform their communities.

"We are not simply producing footballers. We are raising confident girls who will become leaders, professionals, and role models. Football is the tool, but our goal is to transform lives," he said.

NeFCoRD's five-year strategic plan aims to establish girls' football programmes in at least eight primary schools and eight secondary schools across Kasese District by 2030. The foundation also hopes to support at least 100 girls with sports bursaries and create a pathway for talented players to join elite clubs and eventually represent Uganda.