The Aliguma Foundation has ushered in a bold new chapter for community-driven sports and education with the inauguration of the Sunny Magezi Academy at the Aliguma Foundation Sports and Empowerment Centre (AFSEC) in Kinuuma Village, Masindi District. Launched in November 2025 under the motto “where every child shines,” the academy stands as a heartfelt tribute to the late parents of Founder and CEO Ritah Aliguma—Mr. Magezi Steven Nyakana and Mrs. Sunny Nsungwa, whose enduring commitment to compassion and learning inspired the project’s creation.
With an approach as dynamic as the athletes it hopes to shape, the academy introduces a cutting-edge model that places sports, vocational skills, and formal education on equal footing. Ritah Aliguma emphasized that the academy aims to set a national benchmark through its hands-on, talent-driven methodology designed to make learning relevant, practical, and transformative. Its dual offering of national and international curricula promises to equip learners not just with academic knowledge but with real-world skills that amplify their potential on and off the field.
The launch drew an enthusiastic crowd of local leaders, religious figures, U.S. Exchange Alumni, and residents who celebrated the academy as a “beacon of hope,” a sentiment echoed by Hon. Ronald Aled Akugizibwe, MP for Buruli County. Momentum grew further as District Education Officer Ms. Monica Kiiza pledged expedited registration and licensing. The atmosphere was heightened by spirited performances from pupils of God’s Care Community School, whose plays, songs, and team-building games offered a glimpse into the academy’s early promise of nurturing confidence, creativity, and teamwork.
In true AFSEC fashion, the celebrations concluded with a spirited football showdown on the newly unveiled pitch, where Kinuuma FC triumphed over Kabutukuru FC with a 3–1 victory. The friendly match perfectly encapsulated the academy’s mission, merging athletic excellence with academic ambition to inspire the next generation. It also marked another milestone for the Foundation, which recently secured its third consecutive grant from the UEFA Foundation for Children, underscoring its growing influence as one of Africa’s foremost community-led initiatives.
With its doors now officially open, the Sunny Magezi Academy stands poised to change the trajectory of countless young lives. By blending global educational innovations with grassroots passion and local needs, the academy aims to mold future leaders, innovators, and sports champions, proof that even in rural Uganda, world-class dreams can take root and flourish.
