Sports 29 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Football Programme Offers Hope and Skill Development to Kampala's Street Children
A Kampala-based football foundation is using the sport to reintegrate street-connected children back into their families and communities, offering them not just a safe space but also vocational training for a stable future. The program focuses on building trust and providing consistent support, recognizing that the journey back home is often the most challenging. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/soccer/how-football-is-rewriting-futures-for-kampala-s-lost-boys-5476864
On the outskirts of Kampala, a dusty football pitch serves as more than just a playing ground; it’s a lifeline for children navigating the harsh realities of street life. Reagan Korwomuhangi, a 14-year-old, exemplifies the program’s impact. Recently reunited with his family in Kyegegwa District, he has returned to Kampala, not to the streets he once inhabited, but to the MGG Soccer Friends Foundation, an organization that uses football to pull children away from uncertainty.
Reagan’s journey to the streets began with struggles at home, including financial difficulties that disrupted his education. Faced with pressure and a lack of stability, he left his village, eventually ending up in Kampala’s Kisenyi settlement. “Out there, you do not plan. You just survive,” Reagan reflects on his past, highlighting the stark contrast to the structured environment provided by the foundation.
MGG Soccer Friends Foundation, founded by Raymond Mugagga, draws inspiration from a childhood witnessing generosity and care. The organization operates in areas with high concentrations of street-connected children, using football as an “entry point” to build trust and provide a safe, structured space. “What we are building is a safe and structured space where these children can begin to feel valued and guided,” Mugagga explains.
The foundation instills discipline, teamwork, and accountability through regular training. Beyond the pitch, mentors offer guidance, and outreach teams provide food, clothing, and support to children still living on the streets, gradually building the trust needed for them to join the program. While the foundation directly supports about 10 children, over 30 have passed through, with an average of one successful reintegration per month.
Reintegration is a delicate process, acknowledged by social worker Joyce Nabbosa. For Reagan, this meant not just returning home but also receiving vocational training in welding, a skill deemed more sustainable than a traditional classroom setting due to his interrupted schooling. “Rebuilding trust, identity and belonging takes time,” Nabbosa notes, emphasizing the importance of consistency.
Despite limited funding, often relying on local tournaments and donations, MGG Soccer Friends Foundation continues its work. “The ball brings them in,” Mugagga states, “But what we are building are pathways, moving them from survival to stability, from isolation to belonging.” Reagan’s experience is a testament to this mission; he has moved from uncertainty to having a clear direction, his life significantly changed by the program.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)