Beyond the Game: How Sport Is Changing Young Lives in Uganda’s Refugee Settlements

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda reports that sport-for-development initiative Game Connect has been using football, netball and other structured play to support young people’s psychosocial well-being in Uganda’s refugee settlements and nearby host communities. The article says the program began in 2020 under consortium manager Lydia Murungi and was built on the idea that sport can do more than entertain: it can help young people manage stress, build confidence, strengthen relationships and learn practical life skills.

According to the report, Game Connect reached 28,812 young people from August 2020 to March 2026 across Kamwenge, Kikuube, Adjumani, Kampala and Lamwo. More than half were refugees, and the program also worked with both in-school and out-of-school youth. The article quotes Ministry of Health mental health official Dr Hafsa Lukwata as saying many young people lack the coping skills needed to handle trauma and social pressure, and that sport can be used to teach resilience and emotional regulation.

The story highlights activities at Yoro Primary School in Adjumani, where children use games such as a balloon exercise to learn about emotional pressure and healthy coping. It also profiles participants whose lives changed through the initiative, including Judith Ainembabazi of Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement, who says the program helped her gain confidence, and Phoibe Byiringiro, a refugee with a disability who became more involved socially and in sport.

Watchdog Uganda says the initiative has also helped some participants access savings groups and small business opportunities, showing how sport-based programs can connect recreation with inclusion, livelihood skills and mental health support in communities affected by displacement.