Our Story

A group of young men who were raised in one of Uganda’s largest slums, Naguru Slum, founded Youth Sport Uganda. Naguru, which is well-known for its athletes, instilled a passion for sport in the young men and provided them with educational opportunities through sports bursaries and scholarships.

After escaping the clutches of poverty, the young men considered using sports as a means of giving back to their community. As a community-based initiative, YSU began by gathering used sports gear from around the globe, including shoes, balls, and jerseys, and giving it to the youth of Naguru slum.

The young boys soon recognized that providing sports equipment was insufficient and that the boys and girls in their neighborhood required access to health care, education, and employment opportunities. They started to raise money for these, and they helped their companions escape poverty through a number of regional and global collaborations.

Over time, YSU gained recognition for using sports to promote social change, and it soon expanded into a national non-governmental organization. As part of its mission, YSU keeps growing its operations outside of the Naguru slum to new communities in Uganda.