Over the weekend, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) paved way for a fourth team of refugees living in Uganda, to compete in the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD) Cup later this year, at the Fufa Technical Centre in Njeru.
This is after the football tournament held in the Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district, Northern Uganda. Obongi is one of those new districts that were carved out of Moyo district. It is the first time that Jica together with its partner, Soltilo Bright Stars football club, with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were extending to this part of the country.
Through football, Jica is championing social transformation of the refugees living in Palorinya, too. As such, they will have an opportunity to join other refugee community teams like Rwamwanja (Western Uganda), Rhino Camp (Madi-Okollo in West Nile), and Pagirinya (Adjumani).
During the programme in Palorinya, which was dominated by the football clinic conducted by Bright Stars coaches, among whom was Sula Ssebunza, former Cranes captain, Ibrahim Ssekagya’s sibling, it was a fulfilling experience for a host of refugee teenage girls, that took part.
Esther Lakesa, 17, was excited about the training she got. It made her understand the game more, but also enjoy the dynamics that it presents. While speaking at Idiwa Parents Secondary School in Palorinya refugee settlement, Lakesa, who is from South Sudan said: “Football has helped protect me from things that can affect my future, say, early pregnancy. I believe if I concentrate well, I can make something out of my talent, if I train hard.”
Lakesa revealed that there are a number of her peers, aged just 14, that have fallen victims to early child pregnancies, which have proved disruptive to their lives. The reported number of teenage pregnancies among refugees stands at 41.2%.
Uganda hosts a reported 1.8 million refugees making it the largest refugee population in Africa and the sixth in the world. Yet, a number of these refugees face numerous challenges such as inadequate access to basic services and discrimination from the host communities.
The theme for this year’s World Refugee Day is solidarity. This is geared towards ensuring better relations between refugees and host communities. This year’s TICAD cup will be in its fourth edition, having started in 2022.
Inoue Yoichi the chief representative of JICA in Uganda emphasized that through the TICAD Cup, where refugees play with teams from the host communities, peaceful co-existence has been realized, therefore, as Jica, they will not let-up on promoting that.
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