CAF African Schools Championship: Kawempe Muslim Women Football Project Reaps Big after over Two Decades of Existence

On May 25, 2024

By: kayiirajackson@gmail.com

The Uganda’s Women Football Powerhouse, Kawempe Muslim Secondary school has finally started reaping from the project they incepted in early 2000s.

The school’s under fifteen side won a bronze medal in the 2024 CAF African Schools Championship held in Zanzibar. The medal came with a USD150,000 [Ugx570,000,000] at the current rate.

This project of African Schools Championship was initiated by the current CAF president Dr. Patrice Motsepe in 2022 and this was the second edition, the first was hosted in South Africa in 2023.

Kawempe Muslim, the side that represented Uganda and CECAFA zone beat the defending champions, Fountain Gate School (Tanzania) 1-0 to win a bronze medal,thanks to Cynthia Kirenga’s second half lone strike.

The team was under the guidance of Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi who is part and partial of the Kawempe Muslim SS football project

Kawempe Muslim SS captain, Shadia Nabirye recieving dummy cheque of USD150,000 from CAF president Dr Patrice Motsepe | photo credit USSSA media

South Africa won the final after beating Morocco 5-4 on spot kicks following a one all draw in normal time while in boys category, Tanzania crowned the champions after defeating the defending champions Guinea 1-0 on final. The championship was held at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar and CAF president watched to final.

The winner of the championship, both boys and girls, each walked away with USD300000, first runners up USD200000 and the second runners USD150,000.

According to CAF, the main focus of the project is to develop organised football at school level on the continent for boys and girls.

In this second edition campaign, Kawempe Muslim has secured USD250,000 [Ugx950,000,000] and according to Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC CEO and a staff at Kawempe Muslim SS, Ahmed Lubuulwa, this is the greatest milestone they have ever achieved in women football since the Inception of the project in early 2000s.

One of the many Kawempe Muslim SS identified talents in 20 years | Sandra Nabweteme | photo courtesy

“Yes, this is the greatest milestone we have ever achieved in at least 23 years” Lubuulwa told this website.

However, the whole of this monies don’t go straight to the bank account of the school but a certain percentage around 60% go in the projects that are football related and according to Lubuulwa, the school is looking at upgrading the stadium and having a new transport.

“The decision will be made by the top management of the school but again they consult us the people in the department.

And one of our proposals is the upgrading of the pitch and maybe to have another bus for the team and school. We are still weighing on all those ideas.” He said.

In consultation from other women football stakeholders, most schools have welcomed the CAF idea citing that they can now invest in girls football because they have started to see the light.