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Nakalema: The girl excelling in men's football
Ashurah Nakalema displays her medals. PHOTO/DAVID SEKAYINGA
What you need to know:
- After graduating in October last year, Ms Nakalema returned to Kalangala hoping to work as a reporter. While job opportunities in journalism remain elusive, she still follows reporters to the field in the morning and trains in the evening.
With no active girls’ football team in Kalangala District, Ms Ashurah Nakalema, a 20-year-old budding journalist, has turned to local men’s football tournaments to keep her passion alive.
Ms Nakalema, a resident of Mweena Landing Site, actively competes in men’s football tournaments across the district.
Despite lack of prior formal club training, she has scored 10 goals in three tournaments between November 2024 and April 2025, earning two Best Player medals and finishing second top scorer. Nakalema said her football journey began during her childhood days when she drew inspiration from her male siblings.
“I started playing football when I was seven years old in Primary Three, mostly with my brothers at home. Since there were no girls’ teams then, I often trained with the boys—at home and school, and later at higher institutions of learning,” she said during an interview last week.
After she dropped out of school in Senior Four, Ms Nakalema joined Mummy’s Institute in Masaka City in January 2022, to pursue a certificate in journalism.
Ms Nakalema said while at Mummy’s Institute, she trained with male players and eventually earned a place in the institute’s team that competed in the June 2022 inter-institute tournament, scoring in a 2-0 win against Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing and Midwifery.
“I was chosen as a striker in an all-boys team. That’s when I knew I could compete with men and excel,” she recalled.
After graduating in October last year, Ms Nakalema returned to Kalangala hoping to work as a reporter. While job opportunities in journalism remain elusive, she still follows reporters to the field in the morning and trains in the evening.
“Football is my second life. I finish media fieldwork by noon, then train at 4pm. On match days, I don’t go to the field to get news,” she said.
She currently plays for Makanika Football Club and Mweena United Football Club, both village-based teams not affiliated with any Federation of Football Association (Fufa) recognised league.
Mr Julian Muwonge, the manager of Makanika FC, said Nakalema was brought on board after she proved she could out-compete men.
“We watched her train from a young age and she later proved she was more talented and focused than some boys. We signed her on the team and even allowed her to play for other teams as part of our agreement to promote her talent,” he explained.
Mr Ben Mbaziira, the manager of Mweena United FC, said Nakalema’s talent won her a place on the official village team.
“We got her after she helped Hug FC win a tournament. She’s now our Number 10 on the village team. We allowed her to play for other teams so she could develop her talent,” he said.
The freedom to play for more than one team gave Nakalema the exposure that saw her being signed into Climax FC at the district level, and she played under the district corporate league.
“She was exceptional that we decided to make her the team captain, and she has made us proud after winning the tournament,” Photius Ssekabira, the Climax FC team manager, said.
Nakalema’s mother, Ms Rashidah Nakabuubi, said she never welcomed the idea of her daughter playing and training with boys. However, she later gave up after discovering her daughter’s great passion for the beautiful game.
"When she was young, she was destined for journalism, but later discovered her other passion," she said.
Mr Rajab Semakula, the Kalangala District chairperson, said the district is in the process of recruiting a sports officer. He said the district is keen on supporting female athletes.
“We’ve always wanted to promote girls’ sports, but many shy away or lack support. We now work with tournament organisers to ensure girls are included in men’s teams. We have a vision of setting up a women’s league in the near future,” he said.
Mr Lumbuye Besweeri, the organiser of the Kalangala Corporate League, said they are inspired by girls like Nakalema to attract more females into men's football. “Today, we have 60 girls participating. Soon we will have at least four full female football teams,” he said.
However, Mr Besweeri said deep-rooted community fears remain a challenge. “I used to train and take girls to play in teams at national level but some parents thought I was trafficking their daughters whenever I took them for the games. I am happy Ms Nakalema’s mother allowed her to nurture her talent,” he added.
Big dream
While she shines locally, Nakalema’s eyes are set on national leagues. “I want to join the FUFA Women Super League. My dream team is Kampala Queens. But here in Kalangala, we lack the exposure and support to attain our goals,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to a serious media outlet and this will enable me to do both football and journalism,” she added. She added that even when she doesn't get to any regional or national team, her stay in football will be a hope for other girls to join.
“I have come this far without a girls’ team. I play because I love the game,” she said. The Kyamuswa County MP, Mr Moses Kabuusu, said the youth in the district have potential, but lack direction.
