Njeru’s Rays of Grace Academy giving orphans hope

KAMPALA. Football is the hope for many underprivileged children. Actually, it is the only realisable way of life.
This hope is carried aplenty at Rays of Grace Football Academy, a team that sometimes looks ‘hopelessly’ out of place in the highly competitive youth football.
After winning the first silverware in just their third year of existence, the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) Buganda region trophy and dominating the select team, they are set to fight against the tides.
“We are in this well aware of where we want to go and know the cross we have to bear,” Roberts Kiwanuka, the Director of Hoffman Family Foundation, which supports Rays of Grace Academy, said.

Unique beginning
In 2015, the academy, which is housed at Rays of Grace Junior School, opened with eight pupils under the bursary program.
The family bought 10 acres of land in Buikwe despite being born in Masaka.
“We came here because Njeru was very favourable with land for the kind of our concept,” Kiwanuka said.
A tough childhood had taught Kiwanuka that he does not live for himself alone.
Having been raised by Sr. Rose Muyinza’s Daughters of Charity at Sabina Primary School in Masaka, he thought of giving back to vulnerable children like him when he grew up.
In September 2014, he started a school, which is now home to 367 pupils, 32 of whom are registered under their football academy which is recognised by the Uganda Youth Football Association (UYFA).
Other players above the primary school age have been enrolled at schools like Kasoga SS, Jinja SS, Kisaasi College, Blessed Sacrament Kimaanya and St Mary’s Kitende.

Kind benefit
When Kiwanuka graduated as a teacher, he worked with partners from Colorado Christian University to make his dream come true.
But he is not operating this school to cash in on a check.
“We benefit orphans in Njeru, which is devastated by HIV/Aids as well as any other talented players from elsewhere who can join the academy,” Kiwanuka said.
In May this year, Rays of Grace won the UYFA U15 Cup while the U17 team were finalists in the Kabaka Cup last year.
Even though the school is taking huge risks to support the football academy, Kiwanuka still takes the quality of education seriously.
“We know someone can excel with talent but it matters that we give them good education too,” he said.
He has recruited a respected coach, Michael Kabali, who was with Ssingo team in 2017 as well as Sam Lwanga, an assistant at Kyadondo.
Hamidu Kasozi is responsible heads talent scouting.

Exciting players
This has already paid off. Some of the exciting players in the juniors league; Travis Mutyaba, Issa Bugembe, Davis Sekajugo, Andrew Kirunda, Matthias Kasadha and Julius Kintu are already making heads turn.
Kiwanuka already has his minds set on the future.
“Two things must happen soon. One is building a complete sports complex and a secondary school before the end of 2019,” he noted.
For now Rays of Grace Academy will hope the fairytale doesn’t stop as they seek to scale the heights in local football.

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