UOC partners with Swans to mitigate against gender-based violence

The world was stunned last year by the tragic loss of Paris 2024 Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, whose life was cut short by gender-based violence (GBV). Her story is a powerful reminder that we must urgently shine a brighter light on this issue and take meaningful action.

Now, Swans Sports Club, through its groundbreaking G.I.R.L.S Against GBV project, has joined forces with the Uganda Olympic Committee and Uganda Rugby Union to inspire and empower 10,000 young people aged 12-18 to tackle gender-based violence through the power of rugby.

The three-year program that will be implemented across 50 schools in Wakiso District and neighbouring districts was launched on Friday by the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) vice president Moses Mwase, who was in the company of Swans Sports Club patron James Ezron Okoit Owaraga, Uganda Rugby Union (URU) CEO Isaac Lutwama, UOC’s Harriet Ocheng, and Yayiro Kasasa from the URU sponsorship and evaluation department during a press conference at the UOC.

Mwase said this was a very important initiative, supported by the International Olympic Committee, that will use the power of sport to promote protection and empowerment for people affected by GBV, particularly girls.

“So, we are standing together to send a message that every girl deserves to be safe and practice their sport in dignity and for them to have an opportunity to play their sport in safe environments,” Mwase noted.

“GBV remains a major challenge in our communities because there are so many unreported cases, so this initiative is intended to be able to identify, empower, discourage and teach people what GBV is, but also that we take steps to protect, especially girls who are affected most.”

He noted that GBV happens in many forms: harassment, discrimination, and abuse, and often these happen in total silence.

Lutwama said they were happy to be affiliated with such a project and that sport can be used as a tool to raise social issues in our communities. He said URU will lend a hand to UOC and Swans in monitoring, evaluation, and supervision to ensure that Swans are actually delivering as they should.

“The people that are going to be educated on this program and reaching out to the youth means that we are now trying to create a movement starting with our young kids such that by the time they grow into adulthood, they are already aware of the taboos that are involved in GBV and not just leaving the task to the girls but also using the girl child as advocates to speak out to our sisters and mothers,” he stated.

Okoit said they were excited to have initiated the sports project, adding that the Swans have been using it as a vehicle for social change. “We have done events on GBV for the last four years; we have also done events for cancer awareness, and I’m thankful to the UOC and the IOC for giving us the support to be able to push the message further. We also thank URU for their support, but we intend to spread to the other sports. Swans, we are very committed to using sport as a vehicle for social change.

“We are targeting the young generation because we believe GBV takes root from the ground. It is easier to mould the young minds, and hopefully these become our ambassadors to carry out this message.”

The project will start with a three-day Training of Trainers camp for coaches, teachers, and mentees (50% female) to strengthen gender-sensitive coaching and safeguarding skills. It will also encompass weekly rugby training sessions in all partner schools to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and confidence; and monthly life skills and GBV awareness workshops covering rights, reporting pathways, leadership, and assertiveness. Community engagement events are held annually to educate parents, leaders, and the public on GBV prevention.

The training will culminate in an inter-school rugby tournament under the theme “Play Safe, Lead Strong.” The project also establishes peer support groups, strengthens referral pathways for girls in need of psychosocial or legal support, and promotes boys’ active involvement as allies in ending GBV.

By equipping schools with trained personnel, safeguarding tools, and community engagement strategies, the program aims to reduce GBV incidents, challenge harmful gender norms, and create an inclusive environment where girls can participate freely and safely in sports and school life.