With the curtains having come down on the year 2024, we at the Aliguma Foundation take a moment to reflect on the incredible milestones and transformative activities that defined our journey. Guided by our unwavering mission to uplift slum communities and empower marginalised individuals through education, sports, and sustainable initiatives, the past year has been nothing short of monumental.
Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of how we turned aspirations into actions:
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January
We kicked off the year with the thrilling conclusion of the 8th Annual Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tournament Finals, bringing together talented youth from various communities to showcase their football skills, fostering teamwork and unity. Luigi FC were the victors in late January after bagging their third title following their back-to-back victories in 2019 and 2020.
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February
February was an action-packed month:
• Education & Sanitary Distributions: We reached schools in Masindi and Acholi Quarters, distributing learning materials and sanitary items to promote education and health.
• High-Profile Visits: Hosting the UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin and the Slovenia UEFA Legends Team was a major highlight, underscoring our global connections. The UEFA Legends made a commitment to pay school tuition fees for more less-privileged children with each legend pledging to take on at least one child.
• Empowerment Through Sports: The President’s Match brought together members of Parliament, uniting leaders for a greater cause.
• Student Support: We ensured students had the resources they needed by providing school fees and scholastic materials.
Love In The Air: The month of saw the return of UEFA president Čeferin to Uganda with a team of legends who played against Parliamentarians as well as visiting the Aliguma Foundation's projects in Acholi Quarters and Kinuuma in Masindi.
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March
In March, the gifts brought by the UEFA President and Slovenia Legends Team reached:
• God’s Care Community School, New Hope School Kinuuma, Kabaali Primary School, Kahaara Primary School, Kinuuma Primary School, New Life Primary School, Bigando Primary School, and Joyland Primary. The joy these gifts brought to young learners was immeasurable, reinforcing the value of partnerships.
Promoting Livelihoods: The balls and gifts from UEFA trickled down to less-privileged ones.
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April
• We launched American Flag Football in Acholi Quarters, diversifying sports opportunities. Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, too supported flag footballl in the slums.
• Women under the Foundation’s programs received enhanced support, aligning with our commitment to women’s empowerment.
New Thrills: The children in the slum areas got introduced to American Flag Football whereas the elderly mothers received enhanced support and got empowered further.
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May
Our global footprint expanded as a team of seven represented the Foundation in Greece at the UEFA Foundation Board Meeting and the Europa Conference League Finals, where children performed. These international engagements showcased the potential of our community on a global stage.
Capping off the trip, the team enjoyed the unique experience of watching Olympiakos take on Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final at the OPAP Arena.
The seven-person delegation included children from Acholi Quarters, a councilor Ismail Mukoiko, and foundation representatives, further emphasizing the foundation’s mission of empowerment and inclusion. This milestone event is expected to open new doors for the foundation’s transformative work in Uganda.
Unforgettable Voyage: The historic trip to Europe proved that anything is possible for the less-privileged children and youth from Acholi Quarters and any other 'tough' walk of life.
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June
• Margaret Nakagwa attended a prestigious camp in the USA, highlighting the potential of individuals nurtured by the Foundation.
• Our CEO Ritah Aliguma joined the AIPS Congress in Barcelona, strengthening our global networks.
• New Hope Primary School received much-needed iron sheets for infrastructure improvement.
Chances Galore: A true daughter of the foundation, Nakagwa explored opportunities in the land of opportunity in America and New Hope Primary School did get a roof on their heads.
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July
We welcomed Matteo to Uganda to the Aliguma Foundation Sports & Empowerment Center (AFSEC), fostering cross-cultural exchanges and shared learnings. This year, the Aliguma Foundation proudly hosted Matteo Cicatiello, an Italian philanthropist and key partner, in Uganda.
Cicatiello, who has bridged connections with global sports figures like Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest) and Wilfred Singo (Monaco), toured the Aliguma Foundation Sports and Empowerment Centre in Masindi and inspired pupils at New Hope Primary School with motivational messages.
“Matteo has been an important friend since we knew him. He loves Africa, he loves children, and he is very keen about the activities of the Aliguma Foundation,” shared Ritah Aliguma, CEO of the foundation.
His visit highlighted the strength of global partnerships in empowering communities and advancing the foundation’s vision.
Firsthand Witness: The foundation's eternal friend and promoter Cicatiello visited Masindi.
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August
• In a remarkable boost to grassroots sports development, the Aliguma Foundation received an assortment of American Football gear, including balls and flags, from the National Football League (NFL) in the USA. The foundation handed over the donated equipment to children in Acholi Quarters, Banda, Kampala, marking a significant step in promoting the sport in Uganda. These items will play a crucial role in fostering the growth of American Football in local communities and beyond, aligning with the foundation’s mission to empower and uplift through sports.
• A special meeting with children from Masindi and Acholi Quarters reinforced the importance of inclusivity in all our efforts. It was a monumental day as the two sets of beneficiaries and administrators of the foundation got to interact and strengthen their camaraderie.
Lets Play American Football: And the renaissance of the game came through in August.
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September
Our Go Back to School program provided scholarships and materials, ensuring that education remains accessible to all. We also explored innovative farming methods at the Kabanyoro Agricultural Research Center, focusing on sustainable practices with black soldier flies.
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October
• Aliguma Foundation CEO Ritah Aliguma was honoured to serve as the torchbearer for the 2024 Global Sports Mentoring Programme (GSMP) in Washington, D.C. This recognition celebrates her work using sports to empower women, girls, and people with disabilities in Uganda. Ritah shared insights from the foundation’s impactful programs, including the Soccer Slums Campaign, which has helped teens use football to reconcile with families and earn scholarships. She also highlighted new initiatives like the Environmental Defenders program, run in partnership with USAID and Tufts University. Her participation underscores the global recognition of the foundation’s work and its commitment to community empowerment through sports and inclusion.
• The UEFA Foundation and Shoes4Life donated football boots and goalkeeper gloves to the Aliguma Foundation, benefiting children in Acholi Quarters and Masindi. This partnership, initiated during the Global Sports Mentorship Program, continues to make a positive impact in the community.
• We initiated a workshop on “Recycle, Reuse, Reduce,” marking our commitment to environmental conservation. With support from USAID, Tufts University, and Makerere University, launched the "Support to Environment Defenders in Informal Settlements of Kampala" project. Focused on recycling and waste management, the initiative aims to empower residents in underserved areas like Acholi Quarters and Kifumbira. The project encourages community-driven solutions to plastic waste, creating both environmental and economic benefits, and seeks to foster a cleaner, healthier Kampala.
Flying The Flag: CEO Aliguma was a torchbearer at the GSMP in Washington, Shoes4Life offered football equipment and the Environmental Defenders project got underway.
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November
The ninth Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tournament kicked off on November 24, 2024, at Acholi Quarters Playground. With the theme "Reuse, Recycle, and Reduce," the tournament aims to raise awareness about waste management through sports.
Featuring 60 teams, the event combines competition with community engagement, also promoting initiatives like the Environmental Defenders Project. The opening match saw defending champions Luigi FC face Acholi Quarters Galacticos, while highlighting the power of sports to address key social issues.
New Season: The ninth Aliguma Foundation Banda Slums Soccer Tourney kicked off in style.
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December
We ended the year with a burst of energy and joy:
• The Aliguma Foundation kicked off December 2024 with remarkable news, securing a third consecutive grant from the UEFA Foundation for Children. The grant is part of a €5 million package (approximately $5.4 million or UGX 20.3 billion) that will fund 72 transformative projects across 80 countries in 2025.
• This funding will enhance grassroots football, community empowerment programs like ‘Ndi Mwana – The Cry of A Girl-Child’, and capacity-building initiatives for caregivers in areas such as Acholi Quarters in Kampala. Additionally, the Foundation plans to expand its flagship ‘Sports & Enterprise Centre (AFSEC)’ and build a school in Masindi District, Western Uganda.
Ending On A High: The third UEFA grant wasn't just good news for all Aliguma Foundation stakeholders but it meant that more lives will be transformed 'Through Sports & Enterprise, the Environmental Defenders initiative reached Kifumbira slums in Kamwokya and the Alton Basketball Club through their outreach programme brought vibes during the festive season.
• This recognition underscores its steadfast commitment to transforming lives through sports and enterprise. With this third UEFA grant, the Foundation is poised to achieve even greater impact, further cementing its role as a trailblazer in using football to create lasting social change.
• Cleaning campaigns in Kifumbira and Acholi Quarters enhanced community health and awareness under the Environmental Defenders Initiative of ‘Reuse, Recycle & Reduce.’ All this was financed by USAID and implemented by Tufts University alongside Makerere University alongside our own Aliguma Foundation.
• A kids’ party in Acholi Quarters in conjunction with Alton Basketball Club through their outreach project celebrated unity and the holiday spirit, wrapping up the year with joy and togetherness.
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Looking Forward
2024 was a year of impact, resilience, and global collaboration. The strides we’ve made have laid a solid foundation for 2025, where we aim to scale our efforts in education, sports, women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
To all our partners, supporters, and volunteers: Thank you for being part of this transformative journey. Together, we’re changing lives, one step at a time.
#EmpowermentThroughAction | #AligumaFoundation2024 | #StrongerTogether #TransformingCommunitiesThroughSports&Enterprise
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