The appeal was made by Sam Arinaitwe, a Grace Villa board member and former LCIII Chairperson of Central Division in Kabale Municipality, during the second edition of the Grace Villa Golf Tournament held at Kabale Sports Club Golf Course in Makanga.
The tournament was organised to commemorate 13 years since the establishment of Grace Villa.
Arinaitwe said investing in girls through sports helps nurture confident and responsible women who contribute positively to their communities and the country’s development.
“Government support for sports development among young girls creates opportunities for talent identification and instils values such as teamwork, determination, resilience and self-discipline,” Arinaitwe said.
He called on the government to strengthen sports programmes in schools and communities, arguing that expanding sports activities would enable more girls to discover and develop their talents while improving their future career prospects.
Arinaitwe also commended Grace Villa for its contribution to the empowerment of girls and women over the past 13 years.
“I commend Grace Villa for empowering girls and women over the past 13 years. Its initiatives complement government programmes on education, gender equality and community development,” he said.
Grace Villa Chief Executive Officer Ruth Ndyabahika said the golf tournament reflects the organisation’s mission of uplifting and empowering others through opportunity and mentorship.
She explained that golf was selected because it is one of the sports actively played by girls under Grace Villa’s programmes. The tournament provides a platform for them to showcase their talents, build confidence and interact with experienced golfers who can inspire them.
“This is the second golf tournament since Grace Villa’s establishment, and it will continue to grow and attract more support for girl-child empowerment,” Ndyabahika said.
Allen Naturinda, one of the beneficiaries of Grace Villa’s programmes, said participating in the tournament had brought her closer to achieving her dream of becoming a golfer.
“Participating in golf has given me confidence and motivation to work harder toward my future goals. The skills I gain will help my personal growth and future career,” Naturinda said.
The tournament formed part of Grace Villa’s anniversary celebrations and highlighted the organisation’s continued efforts to use sports as a tool for empowering vulnerable girls and preparing them for productive futures.