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As part of the activities to promote TICAD8, JICA Uganda together with Soltilo Bright Stars (SBS), Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA), Terra Renaissance and other partners held the TICAD CUP 2022, a Women's football tournament from 19th to 21st, August 2022 at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The TICAD CUP under the theme ‘Women in Sports: Peaceful Co-existence’ was aimed at promoting gender equality, empowering all girls and women, and fostering mutual understanding between refugees and host communities, thus involving Pagirinya Young Ladies Sports Club from Pagirinya Refugee Settlement in Adjumani district in Northern Uganda. Other football clubs from Jinja Senior Secondary School, Kawempe Muslim Secondary School, Rines Secondary School in Wakiso and Taggy High School, Entebbe and King of Kings Secondary School in Fort Portal joined the tournament that was both friendly and quite competitive.

The Teams

Jinja SS(Red) Vs Kawempe Muslim SSS

All participating teams received jerseys (uniforms) donated by WE League, Japan Women's Empowerment Professional Football league in Japan, as prizes. These were handed over by the JICA Chief Representative Mr. Uchiyama Takayuki and FUFA Deputy CEO, Football, Decolas Kiiza

The teams are only a handful of capable teams out there that prove that girls and women have dreams too and can grow through sports. King of Kings SS took home the TICAD CUP 2022 having emerged winner, beating Taggy High School 4-2 in the finals (in penalties).

The tournament was attended by dignitaries including; H.E Fukuzawa Hidemoto, the Ambassador of Japan, the State Minister for Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang, JICA Chief Representative Mr. Uchiyama Takayuki, Country Directors for United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UN Women, FUFA Officials, South Sudan Undersecretary, Director General for Ministry of Youth and Sport, and the National Project Coordinator for JICA South Sudan.

During the event, Mr. Uchiyama highlighted the role of sports in development, noting that its role cannot be overlooked as it attracts immense attention each passing year.

He added: "JICA specifically looks at sports as an important element in development of societies as it gives meaning to lives of youths. We have recently picked an interest in supporting youth in refugee areas and host communities in order to achieve gender equality, support refugees' lives, who currently constitute of more than 1.5 million of the total population in Uganda, integrate them into host communities by bonding through sports, and build their capacity. This is why we have Pagirinya Young Ladies SC who comprise a big percentage of refugees from South Sudan. The girls received sports gear from We League and Moriyama Sport".

Part of the Pagirinya team donned on sports gear donated by WE League and Moriyama Sports.

In May this year, SBS trained Pagirinya team in preparation of this tournament. They also trained them on the eve of the tournament to ensure that they were up to their game. "This was the first time we were playing on the tuff and with sports shoes on," one of the girls on the team shyly exclaimed.

The tournament was garnished with side activities such as; karate presentations, chopstick challenge, wearing the yukata among other Japanese traditions, by JICA Volunteers to acquaint the players with the same, and was crowned by a memorable visit to the Nile Bridge, which was a beautiful learning experience for the students. In addition, there was a friendly match between JICA and FUFA Officials, which wound up 4:2 with JICA emerging winners.

Pagirinya team donned in Japanese wear

The Nile Bridge illuminated in the teams' colours

JICA(Blue) Vs. FUFA(Orange)

Chopstick challenge

If there is anything to take home from the TICAD CUP 2022 is that dreams are achievable with support. This is why JICA Uganda is working with other partners to support such dreams to achieve the transformative promise of the 2030 Agenda, ‘Leave no one behind', for its Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); gender equality, good health and wellbeing and reduced inequalities, among others.

Needless to mention, the tournament provided a bonding platform for the teams, especially Pagirinya team, and this will go a long way in boosting their confidence, enabling them to believe in themselves and achieving their dreams.