Sports - A tool for social change:An initiative by Eli Community Development Association in Busiika Town council Luweero District

The Namumira Kids League, a youth football initiative spearheaded by Eli Community Development Association (ECODA), has become a powerful catalyst for positive change among adolescents aged 14–16 years in Busiika Town Council. By combining sports with life skills education, the league transcends the boundaries of a traditional sporting competition to become a holistic platform for personal development, community engagement and preventive education attracting over 200 participants.

At its core, the League educates participants about the dangers of alcohol and substance use, a pressing issue affecting youth in many Ugandan communities. Through structured sessions integrated into the football calendar, children receive age-appropriate information on:

• The physical and psychological risks of alcohol and drug misuse.
• How substance use can undermine goals, education, and athletic performance.
• Strategies for resisting peer pressure and making safer choices.

As a result, participants demonstrate increased awareness, resilience and self-efficacy in avoiding harmful behaviours, and many become vocal advocates within their peer groups and families.

Football is used as a tool for life skills development, not just recreation. Players are mentored on essential competencies such as:

• Teamwork and leadership: Working together on the field strengthens cooperation and shared responsibility.
• Discipline and commitment: Regular training and match schedules reinforce time management and dedication.
• Communication and conflict resolution: Navigating victory and defeat teaches respectful interaction and emotional control.

These competencies extend beyond sport, equipping young people with skills that enhance academic performance, social relationships and future opportunities

The Namumira Kids League has become a community unifier in Busiika Town Council. Matches draw families, local leaders, and residents, creating spaces for positive community interaction and shared support for youth empowerment. The visibility of engaged, goal-oriented children shifts narratives around youth culture—challenging stereotypes of idleness and risk-takin

By connecting athletic participation to educational messages, the League reinforces the importance of school attendance, goal setting, and self-belief. Many participants express increased motivation to stay in school, excel academically, and pursue careers—whether in sport or other fields. Coaches and facilitators often act as mentors, modelling pathways to success that stretch beyond the pitch.

Early engagement in structured activities like the Namumira Kids League reduces the time and opportunities children might otherwise spend in unsupervised environments—contexts where they may be more susceptible to experimentation with substances or negative influences. Through consistent supervision and positive engagement, ECODA’s initiative enhances child protection and wellbeing in the community.

Participants in the League don’t just learn about personal wellbeing—they practice responsibility, organization and positive peer influence, positioning them as role models for younger children and siblings. Some players go on to volunteer, coach younger teams, or help organise aspects of the competition, strengthening youth leadership capacity locally.

The Namumira Kids League is more than a football league—it is an empowerment ecosystem for youth in Busiika Town Council. By harnessing the universal appeal of sport, it delivers vital health education, fosters critical life skills, strengthens community ties, and supports the holistic development of adolescents during a formative stage of life.