Sembeza Africa, a leading non-governmental organization committed to empowering children through sports, education, conservation, and development, has announced a major partnership with the Catholic Church and the Kingdom of Buganda.
The collaboration was unveiled during the Ubuntu 3 Sports Festival of Culture and Conservation in Entebbe, a unique event combining sports training with cultural celebration.
According to Sembeza Africa CEO Andrew Byekwaso, the organization hosted two key figures at the event: Father Dr. Nicholas Sseggobe Kiruma, the General Secretary of the Kampala Archdiocese and Executive Secretary for the Teaching Office Commission, and a representative of the Kabaka of Buganda, identified as Walusimbi.
The partnership aims to create a sustainable and inclusive model that can empower children across the country.
Sembeza Africa is known for long-lasting programs built on values such as leadership, integrity, honesty, and hard work.
The organization believes that these principles are essential to shaping responsible citizens.
Plans are underway to create a nationwide network of “clusters” to expand the reach of the initiative.
To ensure long-term sustainability, Sembeza Africa and its partners are preparing a concept note and framework document intended to attract more stakeholders and support.
Father Kiruma expressed strong support for integrating such initiatives into the formal education system and emphasized the importance of regular engagement in activities that combine academics with physical and environmental education.
Walusimbi, speaking on behalf of the Kabaka, also pledged full backing from the Kingdom of Buganda.
Byekwaso outlined the organization’s vision to see at least one million Ugandan children actively participating in sports each week, describing it as both ambitious and achievable.
He pointed to the success of rugby, which already engages over a million primary school children, as evidence that the goal is within reach.
He also emphasized the need to expand sports offerings beyond popular games like football and rugby, to include a broader range of activities for children with different interests.
He stressed the role of sports in shaping discipline, character, and social values.
Citing cases such as former national athletes who have fallen into hardship, he called for the creation of an ecosystem that rewards dedication and excellence, both individually and collectively.
Community-based initiatives were highlighted as powerful models for engaging youth constructively.
Examples from Naguru and Nakawa showed how local efforts have successfully taken children off the streets, provided basic needs like food and hygiene, and introduced them to sports like rugby, which has positively influenced their development.
In addition to sports and education, environmental conservation is a key focus of the initiative.
Children at the festival were engaged in activities like collecting plastic waste and planting trees, reinforcing lessons about the link between environmental stewardship and community wellbeing.
The program also calls for direct involvement from local leaders, district sports officers, and cultural representatives.
The goal is to ensure that every sports or community organization dedicates time and space specifically for children’s development.
The Ubuntu 3 Festival served as a platform to demonstrate how structured youth engagement in sports and conservation can foster national development.
Through partnerships with institutions like the Catholic Church and the Buganda Kingdom, Sembeza Africa aims to create a model of empowerment that is both scalable and sustainable for future generations.
By Ben Musanje
8th Aug 2025
End
