Christmas is a time to love. Maybe things don't sound right. Or look the way they should.
And maybe they're not perfectly in tune. It really doesn't matter. Let’s keep our eyes above…Cos' Christmas is a time to love.
Sumptuous: The little ones from Acholi Quarters dig in at the Aliguma Foundation Christmas Party hosted at the playground alongside other festivities last weekend. (Photo/AF Media)
That opening paragraph is one of the many easy flowing lyrical lines off a Christmas Album of Maranatha - music founded as a non-profit outreach of Calvary Chapel to popularize and promote a new, folk-rock style of hymns and worship songs influenced by the Jesus people in 1971.
Ritah Aliguma, as the founder of the Aliguma Foundation in 2017, started out with basic and simple goals with top of that priority list being able to give the underprivileged children and vulnerable communities an opportunity to better their livelihoods and secure futures that are worthwhile.
Turning more pages
Five years down the road, CEO Ritah Aliguma still sticks to the same rule book and has not changed one bit despite her ever-growing reputation and the foundation’s steady rise as one of the most accountable charitable organizations not only in Uganda but also on the continent of Africa.
Victory For The Best: Aliguma Foundation Founder Ritah Aliguma (in white) was the chief guest at the Holy Spirit Tournament Cup of Father’s Heart Club. (Photo/AF Media)
Fresh from a working tour of Europe and the United States of America (U.S.A), Ritah Aliguma hit the ground running. From one part of the country to the other, the youthful founder has been eager and quick to spread the joy and love from her travels.
First she made a stopover at the Aliguma Foundation Soccer Academy (AFSA)’s debut competition experience at Panamera Astro-Turf - East Kololo, in the heart of the Ugandan City Centre Kampala.
Aina’s immediate impact
She shared the good news of Nigerian international Ola Aina’s priceless gesture to personally fund some of the foundation’s activities including slums soccer and the latest project - AFSA.
Appreciation Show: Aliguma Foundation Soccer Academy's Under 10 & 12 teams pour their hearts out for Nigerian international Ola Aina while holding his Torino FC's jersey. (Video/AF Media)
The overjoyed children had a feel of Aina’s Torino FC jersey that will be auctioned in the first quarter of 2023 with the proceeds directly positioned to cater for the academy’s needs.
As is the norm, Aliguma Foundation are always in a giving mood and Ritah didn’t disappoint as she carried in goodies in the mould of sports equipment; bibs, balls, cones and playing kit for the JKA Tournament Director Joe Kigozi.
Girl Power on the rise
Days later, Ritah made a chief guest appearance at the Holy Spirit Tournament Cup of Father’s Heart Club.
Girls Wanna Play: The Girl-Child turned up in droves for the Kigezi Women's Football Tournament to prove that the game is equal for all. (Photo/AF Media)
Aside from rewarding the best performing teams and top individuals with certificates and a trophy, she also donated balls, clothes and more importantly sanitary pads to the girl-child that participated in the event to the elation of the young females from the ghetto.
Fast forward, Ritah alongside a handful of the foundation’s volunteers were off to Acholi Quarters to put a smile on hundreds of the little ones and their mothers with a special meal at a place where it all got started for the foundation in 2017.
Santa came early
Playing Santa Claus for a special group that has been at the genesis of everything good at Aliguma Foundation was satisfying in every true sense of the word.
Christmas indeed came early for the community with the little ones and mothers making merry in what was a celebration of enterprise and sporting excellence.
Products Of Improvisation: Some of the products including liquid soap, art & crafts and tailoring works made by the community of Acholi Quarters were on sale at the foundation's annual Christmas Party. (Photo/AF Media)
The women and youth are doing a great job through the skills programs offered by the foundation’s elite volunteers. They’re currently a hub of many products including Liquid Soap, Bushera, Peanut Butter, Art & Crafts and Tailoring among others.
Spreading wings further
During this festive season, the love has been spread further in South Western Uganda.
The foundation offered an olive branch to the Kigezi Women Football Tournament.
Catching Them Young: An all female team lines up in-front of the tournament banner ahead of one of their matches at the annual event in South Western Uganda. (Photo/AF Media)
Under the theme; ‘Every Child Is A Champion’, the foundation ensured the championship had a new look altogether with the future superstars competing in proper playing kit and getting some basic needs that promote the ethos of the foundation like the ‘Ndi Mwana - The Cry Of A Girl-Child’ campaign.
Primary joy of slums
Currently the foundation’s first-ever project - The Banda Slums Soccer Tournament - is bigger and better and the seventh edition (2022-2023) rages on. No less than 44 teams from different slums are in the fray fighting for coveted honours at an annual showpiece that is the darling crowds.
The event has forthwith gone on to attract many scouts that are eager to tap the raw talent that is on show and purely gold dust for the bigger competitions in Uganda including; Masaza Cup, Divisional Leagues, Clan Soccer Tourneys, Fufa Big League and the topflight StarTimes Uganda Premier League.
First Love: The seventh edition of the Banda Slums Soccer Tournament rages on and will head into the knockout phase after the festive season. (Photo/AF Media)
Having started on November 19 with the Super Cup between victors Tigers FC and Kawenja FC acting as the perfect curtain raiser, a final like no other is scheduled for January 22, 2023.
The script will not be altered too much as Under 16 and women’s duels are also lined up as well as the anticipated clash between the Acholi Quarters Elders XI against Community Leaders XI on a day of fitting finales.
Vote of thanks
As the curtains come down on the fifth year of existence, the foundation continues to tick its own boxes and appreciate all those that have made an effort in making the goals achievable.
Looks Don't Lie: Area Councillor Ismail Mukoiko (C), CEO Ritah Aliguma (L) and some of the the foundation's volunteers partake in the worthy celebrations. (Photo/AF Media)
Hats off to UEFA Foundation For Children, Ola Aina, UNHCR Uganda, Friends Of Aliguma Foundation (FOAF) USA, WOPI Boston, KitAid Australia and many other individual partners for the unwavering support and for believing in Aliguma Foundation’s ‘arguably insatiable’ dream.
The foundation has been serving several delicacies because of the support from all of the well-wishers. We continue to be grateful and seek for more so that we keep on putting smiles on the ‘indebted’ faces of either many a disadvantaged child, young mother or community.
FOR MORE SUPPORT: Please donate using this link below:
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year!