Why Jica extended girls football crusade to Nansana municipality

2026-03-06 - 13:47

Since 2022, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has been promoting women’s football in Uganda as a tool for social change. By traversing the country, visiting different regions, women’s football has helped shape good relations between refugees and the hosting communities in Pagirinya, Rwamwanja, Rhino Camp, and Palorinya among others, to great effect. However, inspired by the International Women’s Day celebrations on Sunday, March 8, Jica, in partnership with Soltilo Bright Stars, UNHCR, Nansana Municipality and the Office of the Prime Minister, organized a girls football tournament on February 28 at the Kazo field. The message this time was fully on ensuring more women’s empowerment to push for societal transformation. God’s Way High School Maganjo, Ghetto Queens Kawempe and Hot Springs Kazo took part in the tournament, where 91 school-going girls competed amongst each other. While Ghetto Queens won the tournament, the greater good from the event, according to Inoue Yoichi, the Jica Country Representative, was to remind the girls of their potential to become successful in anything they put their efforts in. “Women are the pillars of society. And our support to the girl child is to empower her to achieve her full potential,” Yoichi said. That is undoubtedly a message that must have sank into Flavia Nakato, a promising talent, who inspired the Ghetto Queens through her three goals, which made her stand out as the tournament’s top- scorer. Indeed, talents like Nakato, are the kind that women’s football continues to yearn on its path of growth. Inevitably, she will need more coaching to get to the top. That is why the Bright Stars coaches were on hand to provide technical guidance to Nakato and the others. Harold Atukwatse, the CEO of Bright Stars noted that encouraging girls to stay in school through sports (football), aligns with academic aspirations. Football is a complement to academic achievement because it is helping girls stay in school, too unlike in the past when it was predominantly a boys thing. What better way to empower girls today.