The Aliguma Foundation has once again placed Uganda on the global stage by securing a grant from the UEFA Foundation for Children for the third consecutive time. This prestigious funding, part of a €5 million package (approx. $5.4 million or UGX 20.3 billion), will support 72 impactful projects across 80 countries in 2025.
Power Of A Ball: The CEO of Aliguma Foundation Ritah Aliguma with children from one of the upcountry schools where the foundation has made an impact. (All Photos/AF Media)
The UEFA Foundation for Children’s board of trustees, chaired by Aleksander Čeferin, made the decision at their annual meeting last week, at UEFA headquarters. The selection process followed a call for projects issued earlier this year, with the grants aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children worldwide.
Reward for value
Ritah Aliguma, the passionate CEO of the Aliguma Foundation, expressed her immense gratitude:
“Receiving this grant for the third time is both humbling and motivating. It reaffirms the trust placed in our work and the transformative power of football. We pledge to continue empowering the less-privileged communities, children, and caregivers in Uganda, ensuring that no one is left behind. Football will remain our tool to bring hope and drive lasting change.”
The Aliguma Foundation’s work is centered around; “Transforming Communities Through Sports & Enterprise” offering several children a golden opportunity at grassroots football, community empowerment through several programmes like Ndi Mwana – The Cry of A Girl-Child, and capacity-building programs for caregivers in underprivileged areas like the Acholi Quarters in Banda B Zone – Kireka – a slums-filled suburb in Kampala City.
Behind The Scenes: The UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin, who is also the chairman of the Board of Trustees -UEFA Foundation For Children, alongside the staff and volunteers of Aliguma Foundation during his first visit to Acholi Quarters Playground in 2023.
Transformative journey
"Our mission remains steadfast—to uplift the less privileged through innovative programs. We plan to use this grant effectively to create lasting change.
"We are going to do more and more both in Kampala and upcountry with a keen interest on developing further the multi-projects at the Aliguma Foundation Sports & Enterprise Centre (AFSEC) in Masindi, Western Uganda. We invite more partners to join us on this transformative journey,” added Ritah Aliguma.
Joining the Aliguma Foundation among this year’s beneficiaries are notable organizations across the globe, including:
Mathare Youth Sports Association (Kenya)
Bloomsbury Football Foundation (United Kingdom)
Rio Ferdinand Foundation (Northern Ireland)
Children’s Future International (Cambodia)
Shakhtar Social (Ukraine)
Georges Malaika Foundation (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Sports Charity Mwanza (Tanzania)
Futebol Dá Força Foundation (Mozambique)
Pure Elation: Pupils of Kinuuma Primary School in Masindi District show their delight in owning a brand new beautiful UEFA-branded soccer ball.
The full list of beneficiaries reflects the diversity and reach of the UEFA Foundation's efforts, with 21 projects from Africa receiving 26.6% of the total funding.
Number of projects per region (funds allocated as a percentage of total);
31 Europe (47.8%)
21 Africa (26.6%)
10 Asia (12.8%)
1 Oceania (3%)
6 Central America (5.5%)
3 South America (4.3%)
Incredible power
Carine N’koué, the newly appointed General Secretary of the UEFA Foundation, lauded the decision, stating:
“I am very pleased to announce that our board members have decided to support 72 projects through the Foundation in 2025. We all know how powerful sport and especially football can be. Those projects use that incredible power to impact the lives of countless children around the world for a better life.”
The Aliguma Foundation’s continued inclusion among these beneficiaries highlights its steadfast dedication to leveraging football as a tool for social transformation. With this year’s funding, Ritah Aliguma pledged to expand ongoing programs, enhance facilities, and introduce new initiatives that directly benefit children and their caregivers.
Victory Smiles: Children from Acholi Quarters celebrate the victory of their team - Acholi Quarters Galacticos - during the last edition of the AF Banda Slums Soccer Tournament.
NGOS FOR FUNDING FOLLOWING THE 2024 CALL FOR PROJECTS
PARTNERS | COUNTRIES |
Save the Children Switzerland | Albania |
Bridge of Hope | Armenia |
Breaking Grounds | Austria |
Impala performance ASBL | Belgium |
Association for Sport, Recreation and Education | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia |
Fair Play Point | Czechia |
Children of Prisoners Europe | Europe |
European Amputee Football Federation | Europe |
Paris Saint-Germain endowment fund | France |
Orama Neon YOUTHORAMA | Greece |
Oltalom Sport Association | Hungary |
Sport Against Racism Ireland | Ireland |
Peres Center for Peace and Innovation | Israel |
ASD Centro Olimpia Giarratana | Italy |
KFV Prishtina | Kosovo |
Vilnius Social Club | Lithuania |
Stichting Het Gehandicapte Kind | Netherlands |
KNVB WorldCoaches | Netherlands |
Rio Ferdinand Foundation | Northern Ireland |
Trenuj Bycie Dobrym | Poland |
Samusocial International | Romania |
Big Hearts Community Trust | Scotland |
Development Center for Youth | Serbia |
Federació Esportiva Catalana de Paralítics Cerebrals | Spain |
Asociación Alacrán 1997 | Spain |
En Frisk Generation | Sweden |
Fondation IdéeSport | Switzerland |
Swiss Academy for Development | Switzerland |
Shakhtar Social | Ukraine |
Klitschko Foundation | Ukraine |
Bloomsbury Football Foundation | United Kingdom |
Association Kenskoazell Afrika | Benin |
Grandir Dignement | Cameroon, Madagascar, Niger |
CABO VERDE Stiftung für Bildung | Cape Verde |
iACT | Central African Republic |
INTERSOS | Chad |
Georges Malaika Foundation | Democratic Republic of Congo |
Water4Wildlife Maasai Mara | Kenya |
Mathare Youth Sports Association | Kenya |
Aletha's Legacy | Liberia |
Association Humanitaire AKAMASOA | Madagascar |
Our Aim Foundation | Malawi |
Association Libre Vue | Mali |
Tibu Africa | Morocco |
Futebol dá força foundation | Mozambique |
Cross Cultures Project Association | Nigeria |
Grootbos Foundation | South Africa |
Badgers Football Academy | South Africa |
Sports Charity Mwanza | Tanzania |
Aliguma Foundation | Uganda |
Game Rangers International | Zambia |
African Wildlife Conservation Fund | Zimbabwe |
Right to Learn Afghanistan | Afghanistan |
Action for Development (Switzerland) | Afghanistan |
Children's Future International | Cambodia |
ASA Foundation | Indonesia |
Al-Mesalla organisation for human resources development | Iraq |
Association Football Development Programme (AFDP) Global | Jordan |
Tawazon Initiative for Development | Lebanon |
Childreach Nepal | Nepal |
FundLife International | Philippines |
Football Association of Norway (Football for All in Vietnam project) | Vietnam |
This is How We Football | 14 Pacific islands |
Fútbol por mi País | Costa Rica |
GOALS Haiti (Global Outreach and Love of Soccer) | Haiti |
educate. | Honduras |
Fight for Peace International | Jamaica |
Street Child United | Mexico |
Soccer in the Streets | United States |
River Plate Foundation | Argentina |
Ankla Foundation | Colombia |
Sinkumunchis | Peru |
To follow the works of the Aliguma Foundation; please follow and contact us at; aligumafoundation@yahoo.com or at +256 774 235 155!
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